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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of reaching double digits was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play was to pass the ball – and he executed. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances concluded during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated when asked on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers the Win

He might have sought to clinch the contest – and preserved his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted triumphantly.

It's about playing the game the right way. Always make the smart play,” James noted. That is how I operate. That is the way I was instructed the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

“LeBron is very conscious of his point total he's scored at any point,” stated Lakers coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Run's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest one last time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and his personal record both hanging in the balance. His tally was six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that might have taken him to ten points.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron chose to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it the right way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

The History of a Monumental Record

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but because of his nature as a player and his character as an individual, he made the team play, found Rui and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points had long been an afterthought well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures entering the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

However, two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened in the last week: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.

“I always just make the correct play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James said. “You make the smart play, the basketball gods consistently giving back to me.”