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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of scoring in double figures was in danger. When it mattered most, however, it didn't concern him.

The smart move was to pass the ball – and he executed. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot as time expired.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Play Delivers the Win

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball the right way. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my philosophy. It's how I was taught the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at any point,” said the team's head coach the coach. “He did it as he has done countless times.”

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the floor one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run on the line. At that stage, he had six points from 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that might have pushed him to double digits.

He passed up another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they tend to repay you,” the coach concluded.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

James's streak commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he executed the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a guarantee early in the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained double figures entering the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods had occurred recently: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – but he still rejoiced anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always giving back to me.”