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LeBron James was aware his historic run of reaching double digits was in danger. When it mattered most, however, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, his remarkable run was over.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer as time expired.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Selfless Decision Secures Victory

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and extended his record – with the last shot, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron exulted immediately.

You have to play basketball the right way. Make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I was instructed the game. I've played that way my whole career.”

He is very conscious of his point total he's scored at all times,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it just as he has so many times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest one last time at 5:23 remaining, the outcome and the streak on the line. His tally was only six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game but then missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that would have pushed him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate found him as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

The record commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the most extended such streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing hoops. He could have shot but due to who he is on the court and his personality as an individual, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been a formality early in the final period. Throughout his run, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

However, two of those rare games below ten points after three periods took place in the last week: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it finished – but he still rejoiced anyway.

“I always just make the best play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. When you make the right play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”