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LeBron James was aware his monumental streak of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the ball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

James's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances concluded during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer had only eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He made the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot as time expired.

“None,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

A Team-First Decision Secures the Win

James could have tried to secure the game – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, yet he opted to pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, and James celebrated immediately.

You have to play basketball the proper way. Always make the correct play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

James re-entered the contest for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result and the streak up for grabs. He had six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to tie the game but then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that might have pushed him to ten points.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the greatest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: MJ had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing hoops. He could have shot but because of who he is on the court and just who he is as a person, he made the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually a guarantee early in the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark entering the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

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

My focus is to make the correct play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the smart play, the sports deities are always returning the favor.”