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

The right decision involved passing the rock – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

James's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with 10+ points ended this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James said in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Win

He might have sought to clinch the contest – and extended his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Rui connected, with LeBron raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball the proper way. You always make the correct play,” James noted. That is how I operate. That’s how I learned to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

“LeBron is very conscious of his point total he's scored during a game,” said Lakers coach the coach. He acted just as he has countless times.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the floor one last time at just over five minutes left, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. He had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that would have taken him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, however, James opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but given his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he executed the team play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality early in the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points entering the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two such single-digit games after three periods took place recently: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.

My focus is to make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever giving back to me.”