🔗 Share this article

The Lakers star knew his historic streak of reaching double digits was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

James's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten was snapped on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He provided the decisive pass, setting up Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot at the buzzer.

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

An Unselfish Decision Secures Victory

James could have sought to clinch the contest – and extended the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Rui connected, and James exulted immediately.

It's about playing the game the proper way. Make the right play,” James remarked. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I learned the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of how many points he's scored at all times,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has so many times.”

The Record's Final Moments

James re-entered the game for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. He had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that would have gotten him to ten points.

He didn’t take one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, but James decided to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it the proper way, they often repay you,” Redick added.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

The record commenced over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended such streak in professional basketball: MJ had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the sport. He had the opportunity but due to who he is on the court and his character as a person, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a formality early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had achieved ten points entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

Yet two such single-digit games through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – yet he was celebrating regardless.

“I always just make the right play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the right play, the basketball gods are always returning the favor.”