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James understood his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the rock – and he executed. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances was snapped this past Thursday, when the league's career points king was limited to eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“None,” James said in response about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Decision Secures Victory

He might have attempted to win the game – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

You have to play the game the proper way. You always make the right play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I learned to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

“LeBron is very conscious of how many points he's scored during a game,” stated Lakers coach the coach. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the game for the final time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He scored with 1:46 left to level the contest then missed a shot at 1:01 left that would have pushed him to ten points.

He didn’t take another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they will reward you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Run

The record commenced over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing hoops. He had the opportunity but given his nature as a player and his personality as an individual, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Reaching double digits was usually an afterthought well before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods took place just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in preserve the record against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – and he celebrated all the same.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”