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The Lakers star knew his historic run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision was to pass the basketball – and he executed. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He provided the game-winning assist, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied in response on the record concluding. “We won.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the game – and extended his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to dish the ball to Rui stationed in the corner. Rui connected, prompting James celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball correctly. You always make the correct play,” James noted. “That’s just been how I operate. It's how I learned the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

James is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done countless times.”

The Record's End Game

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record on the line. He had only six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that would have gotten him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, however, James decided to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it correctly, they tend to reward you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended such streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

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

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court and his character as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, found Rui and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been an afterthought well before the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods took place just days before: He recorded nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it concluded – yet he was celebrating anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”