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The Lakers star knew his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was at risk. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances was snapped this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer had only eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer to win the game.

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

An Unselfish Decision Seals Victory

James could have tried to secure the contest – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, but he chose to pass to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James raised his arms immediately.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Make the right play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. That is the way I was taught the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he has at all times,” said the team's head coach the coach. He made the play just as he has so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest one last time with just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had only six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have pushed him into double figures.

He avoided taking another shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, but James opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it correctly, they often reward you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Record

The record began over eighteen years ago. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak in NBA history: MJ had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

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

“He’s just playing hoops. The chance was there but given the player he is and his character as an individual, he executed the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality long before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had reached double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters took place in the last week: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the best play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the smart play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”