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LeBron James was aware his historic run of putting up 10+ points was at risk. When it mattered most, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move was to pass the basketball – and he executed. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied in response on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Win

James could have attempted to win the contest – and preserved his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, prompting James celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball the right way. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. That is how I operate. That is the way I learned to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of his point total he has at any point,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done countless times.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the contest one last time at just over five minutes left, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had six points from 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that would have gotten him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James decided to dish it off instead.

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

The History of a Monumental Run

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It was easily the longest streak of its kind in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the sport. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and his character as a person, he chose the pass, found Rui and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a guarantee long before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive against the Suns. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the game gods forever returning the favor.”