🔗 Share this article

LeBron James was aware his incredible run of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move meant distributing the basketball – and he executed. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

LeBron's astounding run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He made the game-winning assist, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Choice Delivers Victory

James could have attempted to win the contest – and extended his record – in the closing seconds, but he chose to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game correctly. You always make the right play,” James explained. That has always been how I operate. That is the way I learned to play. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

“LeBron is very conscious of his point total he's scored at any point,” commented the team's head coach the coach. He acted just as he has throughout his career.”

The Record's Final Moments

He returned to the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored at 1:46 left to tie the game then missed a shot with one minute to go that might have taken him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James chose to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it correctly, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Staggering Streak

This incredible run began over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest such streak in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing hoops. The chance was there but because of his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he made the pass, passed it to Rui and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee well before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained ten points entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two such games below ten points after three periods had happened in the last week: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the best play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. When you make the right play, the sports deities are always returning the favor.”