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James understood his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, setting up Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated in response about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Decision Secures the Win

He might have sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted triumphantly.

You have to play basketball correctly. You always make the correct play,” James explained. That is how I operate. It's how I learned the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he has during a game,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest one last time with 5:23 remaining, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. He had a mere six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a shot at one minute to go that would have pushed him to ten points.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to make the pass instead.

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

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

This incredible run commenced over eighteen years ago. It was easily the most extended such streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. He could have shot but given his nature as a player and his personality as a person, he executed the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had attained double figures entering the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had happened in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the right play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”