🔗 Share this article

LeBron James was aware his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the rock – and he executed. With that selfless act, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded during a recent game, as basketball's greatest scorer had only eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James replied after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

An Unselfish Choice Secures the Game

He might have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron celebrated immediately.

You have to play basketball the right way. Always make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I learned the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's End Game

James re-entered the contest for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak on the line. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to level the contest then missed a shot with one minute to go that might have taken him to double digits.

He avoided taking one more attempt – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron opted to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they will repay you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

The record started over eighteen years ago. It stood as the longest double-digit streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

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

He simply plays the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but given the player he is and just who he is off the court, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures was usually an afterthought long before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters took place in the last week: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in preserve the record against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – and he celebrated regardless.

“I always just make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. If you make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always returning the favor.”