🔗 Share this article

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

The correct basketball play meant distributing the rock – and he executed. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded on Thursday night, as the league's career points king had only a mere eight points during the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James stated after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers the Win

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Rui connected, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

It's about playing basketball the right way. Always make the right play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware exactly how many points he has at all times,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done countless times.”

The Streak's Final Moments

He returned to the floor for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win and the streak on the line. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that might have gotten him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him as time wound down, but James chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they often bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

The record started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended such streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing hoops. The chance was there but due to the player he is and his character off the court, he made the pass, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually an afterthought well before the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved ten points by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred just days before: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”