🔗 Share this article

LeBron James was aware his historic run of scoring in double figures was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The right decision was to pass the rock – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record finished.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He made the decisive pass, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Decision Secures Victory

James could have sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James celebrated immediately.

It's about playing the game correctly. You always make the correct play,” James noted. That has always been my philosophy. It's how I was taught to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

He is very conscious exactly how many points he has at any point,” said the team's head coach the coach. He made the play as he has done countless times.”

The Run's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome and his personal record up for grabs. He had six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that might have pushed him to double digits.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball as time wound down, however, James chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Monumental Record

James's streak started back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest such streak in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, found Rui and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality well before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

But two such games below ten points after three periods had occurred in the last week: He had nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. The very next outing, it was over – and he celebrated all the same.

I only ever make the best play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. “You make the right play, the game gods forever giving back to me.”