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The Lakers star knew his historic streak of scoring in double figures was in danger. In that crucial moment, however, it was not his focus.

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

LeBron's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, as the league's career points king finished with eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He made the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James said in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Choice Delivers the Game

James could have attempted to win the game – and extended the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to pass to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball correctly. Make the smart play,” James noted. That is how I operate. It's how I learned to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is very conscious of his point total he has at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done so many times.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the contest for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record up for grabs. He had only six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that would have taken him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James chose to make the pass instead of shooting.

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

The History of a Staggering Run

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the longest double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but due to who he is on the court and his character as a person, he made the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Scoring in double figures was usually an afterthought early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters took place in the last week: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the correct play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the basketball gods forever returning the favor.”