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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision was to pass the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight total points in the Lakers' close triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Play Secures the Game

He might have sought to clinch the game – and extended the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Make the correct play,” James noted. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I was instructed the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

James is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at all times,” said the team's head coach the coach. He acted as he has done so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that might have taken him to double digits.

He didn’t take another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead.

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

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

The record commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but due to his nature as a player and just who he is off the court, he chose the team play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality long before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had achieved ten points by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – but he still rejoiced all the same.

“I always just make the best play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”