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James understood his monumental run of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the ball – so he did. Following that play, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's staggering run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, when the league's career points king was limited to a mere eight points during the Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He provided the game-winning assist, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“None,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Secures the Win

James could have attempted to win the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, yet he opted to pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron raised his arms immediately.

“Just playing basketball the proper way. Always make the right play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. It's how I learned to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of how many points he has during a game,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the game for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the win along with the historic run up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have taken him to ten points.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they often repay you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

The record started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the sport. He had the opportunity but due to who he is on the court and his character off the court, he made the pass, passed it to Rui and secured the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been a formality well before the final period. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had occurred just days before: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the best play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. “You make the unselfish play, the game gods are always returning the favor.”