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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

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

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points in the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Decision Secures Victory

He might have tried to secure the contest – and preserved his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Always make the smart play,” James noted. That has always been how I operate. That is the way I learned the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is acutely aware of his point total he has at any point,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He acted just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the game for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points on 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have gotten him to ten points.

He didn’t take one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the right way, they will bless you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

James's streak started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the longest streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but due to the player he is and his character as a person, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points had long been a formality long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two such single-digit games after three periods had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the right play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”