🔗 Share this article

James understood his incredible run of scoring in double figures was at risk. When it mattered most, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play was to pass the ball – so he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“None,” James replied after being questioned on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Seals Victory

He might have sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James exulted with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball the right way. You always make the smart play,” James noted. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I was taught the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” commented Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the game one last time at 5:23 remaining, the win along with the historic run up for grabs. His tally was a mere six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that might have gotten him into double figures.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him as time wound down, but James decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they will bless you,” Redick added.

The History of an Unparalleled Run

James's streak began back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest such streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

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

He focuses on playing hoops. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is as a person, he chose the team play, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had long been a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had reached double figures entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating all the same.

“I always just make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. “You make the smart play, the game gods forever returning the favor.”