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The Lakers star knew his incredible run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. When it mattered most, however, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the ball – so he did. Following that play, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped during a recent game, as basketball's greatest scorer finished with a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Play Seals the Game

James could have tried to secure the game – and preserved his record – on the final possession, but he chose to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted immediately.

It's about playing basketball correctly. You always make the right play,” James remarked. That is my M.O.. That’s how I learned to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” said Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record up for grabs. His tally was a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have pushed him into double figures.

He passed up one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him as time wound down, however, James opted to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court and his personality as an individual, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had long been a formality early in the final period. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

However, two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

I only ever make the best play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. When you make the smart play, the game gods are always giving back to me.”