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

The right decision meant distributing the rock – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances was snapped this past Thursday, as the league's career points king had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James said in response on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Play Seals Victory

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to dish the ball to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron raised his arms immediately.

You have to play basketball correctly. You always make the right play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That is the way I was instructed the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win along with the historic run on the line. He had six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that might have pushed him to ten points.

He avoided taking one more attempt – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him as time wound down, however, James opted to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Staggering Streak

This incredible run commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to his nature as a player and his character off the court, he chose the team play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Reaching double digits had long been an afterthought long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred just days before: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. “You make the right play, the sports deities forever giving back to me.”