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James understood his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the rock – and he executed. With that selfless act, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to a mere eight points during the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James replied when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Delivers Victory

He might have tried to secure the game – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, and James exulted triumphantly.

“Just playing basketball the proper way. You always make the right play,” James noted. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I learned to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

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

The Run's Final Moments

He returned to the game one last time at 5:23 remaining, the win and his personal record on the line. He had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that might have pushed him to ten points.

He passed up another shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, however, James decided to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the proper way, they will repay you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Staggering Streak

James's streak commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: MJ had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays the sport. The chance was there but given who he is on the court and his personality as a person, he made the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a formality early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – but he still rejoiced all the same.

“I always just make the correct play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”