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The Lakers star knew his incredible run of scoring in double figures was in danger. When it mattered most, however, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with 10+ points ended during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer had only eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“None,” James said after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Secures Victory

James could have tried to secure the game – and extended the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball the right way. Make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That is the way I was taught the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he has at all times,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done countless times.”

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the game one last time at 5:23 remaining, the result along with the historic run on the line. His tally was a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a shot at one minute to go that would have taken him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the right way, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the greatest such streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing hoops. He had the opportunity but due to his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he executed the team play, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – but he still rejoiced anyway.

I only ever make the correct play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James declared. When you make the right play, the game gods are always giving back to me.”