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The Lakers star knew his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. In that crucial moment, however, it was not his focus.

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

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot as time expired.

“Zero,” James stated in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Play Secures Victory

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and extended the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted triumphantly.

You have to play basketball correctly. Always make the right play,” James explained. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I was taught to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

“LeBron is very conscious exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done so many times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the game for the final time with just over five minutes left, the outcome along with the historic run up for grabs. He had only six points from 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a shot with one minute to go that would have gotten him to double digits.

He didn’t take one more attempt – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, when you play it the proper way, they often repay you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

The record started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but given who he is on the court and his personality off the court, he chose the pass, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been a formality early in the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained double figures entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games after three periods took place just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it finished – but he still rejoiced regardless.

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the smart play, the sports deities forever rewarding me.”