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LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of reaching double digits was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the rock – so he did. Following that play, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded during a recent game, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He provided the decisive pass, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Win

He might have attempted to win the contest – and extended his record – on the final possession, yet he opted to pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted immediately.

It's about playing the game the proper way. Make the correct play,” James noted. That is my M.O.. It's how I was taught to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is acutely aware exactly how many points he has at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done countless times.”

The Record's End Game

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak on the line. At that stage, he had a mere six points on a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that would have taken him to ten points.

He avoided taking another shot – but could have. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, however, James chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

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

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Record

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but given his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he chose the pass, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits was usually an afterthought well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two such single-digit games through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it finished – but he still rejoiced all the same.

My focus is to make the best play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the basketball gods forever giving back to me.”