🔗 Share this article

James understood his historic run of reaching double digits was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as the league's career points king was limited to eight total points in the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Delivers Victory

He might have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – in the closing seconds, but he chose to pass to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted triumphantly.

“Just playing the game the proper way. Always make the correct play,” James remarked. That is my philosophy. That is the way I learned the game. I've played that way my whole career.”

James is fully cognizant exactly how many points he has during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Run's End Game

He returned to the floor for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to tie the game but then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that might have taken him to ten points.

He avoided taking one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, but James decided to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it correctly, they will repay you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Staggering Run

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but because of his nature as a player and his character as a person, he executed the team play, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures entering the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

However, two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods had occurred just days before: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

I only ever make the best play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James said. When you make the smart play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”