🔗 Share this article

LeBron James was aware his historic run of reaching double digits was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – so he did. With that selfless act, his remarkable run came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals the Game

James could have sought to clinch the game – and extended the streak – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game the proper way. Make the right play,” James explained. “That’s just been my philosophy. That is the way I was instructed to play. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done countless times.”

The Streak's End Game

James re-entered the game one last time with just over five minutes left, the win and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was only six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left which could have taken him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, however, James opted to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the right way, they often reward you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Monumental Record

The record began over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: MJ had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded at 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but because of his nature as a player and his character as a person, he executed the unselfish play, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been a guarantee early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had achieved double figures entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

However, two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had happened just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – yet he was celebrating anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. “You make the smart play, the game gods forever giving back to me.”