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James understood his historic streak of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move was to pass the rock – and he executed. Following that play, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended this past Thursday, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer as time expired.

“Zero,” James stated after being questioned about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Play Delivers Victory

He might have attempted to win the game – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James exulted immediately.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Always make the smart play,” James remarked. That has always been my philosophy. It's how I was instructed to play. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

He is very conscious exactly how many points he has at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. He had a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game but then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go which could have gotten him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, however, James opted to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it the right way, they will bless you,” the coach concluded.

The History of a Monumental Run

James's streak started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but given the player he is and his character off the court, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a formality well before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had attained double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had happened just days before: He had nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – yet he was celebrating regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. If you make the unselfish play, the sports deities consistently returning the favor.”