🔗 Share this article

The Lakers star knew his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He provided the game-winning assist, finding teammate Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said in response about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals Victory

He might have tried to secure the contest – and extended the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Rui connected, and James exulted triumphantly.

You have to play basketball the right way. Make the smart play,” James noted. “That’s just been my philosophy. That is the way I was taught the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant exactly how many points he has at any point,” said Lakers coach the coach. He acted just as he has countless times.”

The Run's Final Moments

He returned to the game for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win and his personal record up for grabs. His tally was only six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that would have gotten him to double digits.

He passed up another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, but James decided to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, when you play it the proper way, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

The record started back in January 2007. It stood as the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he chose the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters took place in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. “You make the smart play, the game gods are always returning the favor.”