Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the record with a sky-hook. If Malone can maintain his current scoring pace, which seems likely, and if he remain as indestructible as ever, which seems certain, then Malone would break Abdul-Jabbar's unbreakable record for career scoring in the last game of the 2003-2004 season.

Once unthinkable, there seems no reason to doubt. Stockton might not be around, though it seems as much a requirement as Abdul-Jabbar setting the record with a sky-hook that he is. And Malone might never find as perfect a pick-and-roll partner.

But Malone finally admitted last week he has set his sights on the record.

"Absolutely, I have thought about that record," Malone said. "Absolutely."