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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play involved passing the basketball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the decisive pass, setting up Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James said when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Play Secures the Win

James could have sought to clinch the contest – and extended the streak – on the final possession, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms immediately.

“Just playing the game the right way. Make the right play,” James explained. That is how I operate. That’s how I was instructed the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant of how many points he has during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. At that stage, he had only six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that would have taken him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves passed him the ball with a few seconds left, but James decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

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

The History of a Monumental Streak

This incredible run began over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the longest double-digit streak in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and Karl Malone recorded at 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He could have shot but given the player he is and his personality off the court, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had reached double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters had occurred just days before: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated regardless.

I only ever make the correct play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the game gods forever rewarding me.”