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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of reaching double digits was threatened. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move was to pass the ball – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run finished.

James's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded this past Thursday, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James said when asked about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals the Game

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the game – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, prompting James exulted immediately.

You have to play basketball the right way. Make the right play,” James remarked. That is my M.O.. That is the way I was taught to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

James is acutely aware exactly how many points he has at any point,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the contest for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. He had only six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that might have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they tend to repay you,” the coach concluded.

The History of a Monumental Streak

James's streak started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the greatest such streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded at 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but given his nature as a player and his personality as an individual, he chose the pass, found Rui and secured the victory.”

Reaching double digits had long been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods had happened recently: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, followed by six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it finished – but he still rejoiced anyway.

I only ever make the right play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James affirmed. If you make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever returning the favor.”