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Bryant can reach 18,000 points when Lakers host Bobcats

Jan 26, 2007 - 5:01 PM Charlotte (14-27) at LA Lakers (27-15) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant can achieve a unique distinction with a slightly above-average performance.

Bryant can become the youngest player in NBA history to score 18,000 points and the 52nd overall to reach the milestone Friday when the Los Angeles Lakers meet the Charlotte Bobcats.

Named Thursday as a starter for the Western Conference All-Star team, Bryant needs 32 points to reach 18,000 at 28 years, 153 days. He would surpass Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain by 13 days.

Tied with Miami's Dwayne Wade for fourth-place in the scoring race (28.3), Bryant also would become the 16th-fastest player to hit the milestone in 746 games.

Bryant recorded his seventh 40-point game of the campaign by scoring 42 for the Lakers in Monday's 108-103 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Andrew Bynum posted his sixth double-double this season with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for Los Angeles, which recovered after committing 23 turnovers in the first three quarters.

Despite Bryant's 58-point outing on 22-of-45 shots, the Lakers failed to hold a 12-point first-half lead in a 133-124 triple-overtime loss to Charlotte on December 29.

Gerald Wallace scored 28 points, Matt Carroll added 27 off the bench and Emeka Okafor 22 with a season-high 25 rebounds for the Bobcats.

Charlotte is coming off Wednesday's 103-92 defeat to the Detroit Pistons - its third loss in five contests. Wallace scored 29 points and Okafor had 17 with 16 boards.