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James understood his monumental streak of scoring in double figures was threatened. In that crucial moment, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's staggering run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances concluded during a recent game, as the league's career points king finished with eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, finding teammate Rui Hachimura for a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied in response about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Game

James could have tried to secure the game – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, but he chose to pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron raised his arms triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Always make the correct play,” James explained. That is my M.O.. That’s how I learned to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is very conscious exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

He returned to the floor one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. His tally was six points on 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

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

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron opted to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the right way, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

The record began back in January 2007. It stood as the most extended such streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but due to his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a guarantee early in the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters took place in the last week: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it finished – but he still rejoiced anyway.

I only ever make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always returning the favor.”