🔗 Share this article

James understood his historic run of putting up 10+ points was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – so he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura for a triple as time expired.

“None,” James said in response on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Team-First Decision Seals the Win

He might have attempted to win the contest – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, but he chose to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Make the correct play,” James remarked. That is how I operate. That is the way I was instructed to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

He is very conscious exactly how many points he has at any point,” said Lakers coach the coach. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win and his personal record up for grabs. His tally was only six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that might have gotten him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it correctly, they will repay you,” the coach concluded.

The History of a Monumental Streak

The record started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak in NBA history: MJ had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and his character off the court, he made the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods took place recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it concluded – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. If you make the right play, the sports deities are always giving back to me.”