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

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura for a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James stated in response about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Secures Victory

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the game – and extended his record – with the last shot, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, and James celebrated triumphantly.

“Just playing basketball the right way. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. That has always been my philosophy. That is the way I was taught to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

James is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” commented the team's head coach the coach. “He did it just as he has so many times.”

The Streak's End Game

James re-entered the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. He had a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a shot with 1:01 left that might have gotten him to double digits.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball in the waning seconds, however, James opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it correctly, they often repay you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Streak

This incredible run commenced back in January 2007. It was, by far the greatest such streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but due to his nature as a player and just who he is as a person, he executed the pass, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had long been an afterthought well before the final period. Throughout his run, he had achieved ten points by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating regardless.

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. “You make the smart play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”