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LeBron James was aware his historic run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. In that crucial moment, however, it didn't concern him.

The smart move was to pass the basketball – so he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances concluded during a recent game, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Win

He might have attempted to win the game – while also extending his record – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing the game correctly. Make the smart play,” James explained. That is how I operate. That is the way I was instructed the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he has at any point,” said the team's head coach the coach. He acted just as he has so many times.”

The Streak's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go which could have pushed him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, however, James opted to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the right way, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

The record commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the greatest such streak in NBA history: MJ had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded at 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and his personality off the court, he executed the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually a guarantee well before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had attained ten points entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters took place recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth 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. In the following contest, it was over – yet he was celebrating all the same.

I only ever make the right play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James said. When you make the right play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”