🔗 Share this article

LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of reaching double digits was threatened. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the rock – and he executed. Following that play, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances concluded on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer had only a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot to win the game.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Decision Delivers the Win

He might have sought to clinch the game – and preserved his record – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted immediately.

You have to play the game correctly. You always make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. That’s how I was taught the game. I've played that way my whole career.”

James is acutely aware of how many points he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Streak's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the game one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to tie the game but then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left which could have gotten him to ten points.

He passed up one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, yet LeBron opted to make the extra pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they will reward you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

James's streak started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the longest double-digit streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded at 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of the player he is and his character as an individual, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a guarantee well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had occurred just days before: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it finished – yet he was celebrating anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. If you make the smart play, the game gods consistently giving back to me.”