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LeBron James was aware his historic run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer had only a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated after being questioned about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Decision Seals the Win

James could have sought to clinch the game – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the proper way. Always make the smart play,” James noted. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I was instructed the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

James is very conscious of how many points he's scored during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

He returned to the game for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the win along with the historic run on the line. He had six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that might have pushed him to double digits.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, however, James opted to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the proper way, they tend to repay you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

The record commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the greatest such streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing hoops. He had the opportunity but given the player he is and his character off the court, he made the team play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

However, two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the best play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. If you make the right play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”