🔗 Share this article

James understood his monumental run of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision was to pass the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak finished.

James's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten was snapped during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer to win the game.

“Nothing,” James said after being questioned about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Secures the Win

He might have sought to clinch the game – while also extending the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, and James exulted immediately.

It's about playing the game the proper way. Always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my M.O.. It's how I learned the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is fully cognizant of his point total he has at all times,” said Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has so many times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time at just over five minutes left, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a 14-footer with one minute to go which could have taken him to double digits.

He avoided taking one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the right way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

James's streak commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended such streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded with 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but given his nature as a player and his character off the court, he executed the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a formality long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had happened recently: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – yet he was celebrating anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods consistently rewarding me.”