🔗 Share this article

The Lakers star knew his monumental run of reaching double digits was at risk. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move meant distributing the basketball – and he executed. Consequently, the unprecedented record came to an end.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He made the game-winning assist, finding teammate Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“Zero,” James stated after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Play Seals Victory

He might have sought to clinch the contest – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to dish the ball to Rui in the left corner. Rui connected, and James exulted with his hands in the air.

You have to play the game the proper way. You always make the right play,” James noted. “That’s just been my M.O.. It's how I was taught to play. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of his point total he has at all times,” stated the team's head coach the coach. He made the play like he’s done countless times.”

The Run's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the contest one last time at 5:23 remaining, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored at 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that would have pushed him into double figures.

He avoided taking one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, however, James decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the proper way, they often repay you,” Redick stated.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the greatest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the sport. The chance was there but given the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had reached ten points by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had happened in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, 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 finished – yet he was celebrating all the same.

My focus is to make the best play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. If you make the smart play, the basketball gods consistently giving back to me.”