🔗 Share this article

James understood his incredible run of putting up 10+ points was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision involved passing the rock – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James stated in response about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Play Delivers the Win

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, and James celebrated with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the right way. Make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been how I operate. That is the way I was instructed to play. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

He is fully cognizant of how many points he's scored at any point,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done countless times.”

The Record's Final Moments

James re-entered the floor one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a shot with one minute to go which could have taken him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they often repay you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Record

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the longest double-digit streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but due to his nature as a player and his character as a person, he executed the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a formality well before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had reached double figures by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had occurred just days before: He had nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – but he still rejoiced anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the right play, the game gods consistently returning the favor.”