🔗 Share this article

The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move meant distributing the basketball – so he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak came to an end.

James's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He made the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot as time expired.

“Nothing,” James said when asked on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Choice Secures the Win

James could have tried to secure the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I learned to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

“LeBron is very conscious of how many points he has at any point,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest one last time with just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record on the line. His tally was a mere six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

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

He didn’t take another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball as time wound down, but James opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, when you play it correctly, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

James's streak started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the greatest double-digit streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he executed the unselfish play, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a guarantee early in the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

I only ever make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the right play, the basketball gods consistently giving back to me.”