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The Lakers star knew his historic run of scoring in double figures was threatened. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the rock – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's astounding run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded this past Thursday, when the league's career points king was limited to a mere eight points during the Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple to win the game.

“None,” James said when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals Victory

James could have tried to secure the game – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James celebrated immediately.

“Just playing basketball correctly. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I learned to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

James is acutely aware of how many points he's scored at any point,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has so many times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the game one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had only six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that might have taken him to ten points.

He didn’t take another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, however, James opted to dish it off instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they will reward you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Staggering Streak

This incredible run started back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest such streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to who he is on the court and his personality off the court, he chose the unselfish play, found Rui and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times before this game.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – and he celebrated all the same.

I only ever make the correct play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James declared. “You make the smart play, the sports deities consistently giving back to me.”