🔗 Share this article

James understood his monumental streak of scoring in double figures was at risk. When it mattered most, though, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play involved passing the ball – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Seals the Game

He might have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball the right way. Always make the right play,” James noted. That is my philosophy. It's how I was taught the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant of how many points he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach the coach. He made the play just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's End Game

LeBron checked back into the game one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record on the line. His tally was six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to knot the score then missed a shot with one minute to go which could have pushed him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him with a few seconds left, however, James chose to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they will repay you,” Redick added.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

The record began over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the longest streak of its kind in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing hoops. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and just who he is as a person, he chose the team play, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained ten points by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters had occurred just days before: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

I only ever make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James declared. If you make the right play, the game gods forever returning the favor.”