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James understood his historic run of putting up 10+ points was at risk. When it mattered most, however, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, his remarkable run finished.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten was snapped this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Decision Secures the Game

James could have sought to clinch the game – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James exulted triumphantly.

You have to play the game the proper way. You always make the right play,” James noted. That has always been my M.O.. That’s how I was instructed to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant exactly how many points he has during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the contest one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak on the line. At that stage, he had only six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go which could have pushed him to double digits.

He avoided taking one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the right way, they often bless you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and his personality as a person, he made the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James said. If you make the smart play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”