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The Lakers star knew his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play involved passing the basketball – so he did. Following that play, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points in the Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He provided the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura for a triple at the buzzer.

“None,” James stated after being questioned on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Game

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game correctly. Always make the correct play,” James explained. That has always been how I operate. That’s how I was taught the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has so many times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win along with the historic run on the line. His tally was only six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a shot with 1:01 left which could have gotten him to double digits.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they will reward you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the longest such streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but given the player he is and just who he is off the court, he executed the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods had happened just days before: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – yet he was celebrating regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the game gods consistently giving back to me.”