🔗 Share this article

James understood his historic run of scoring in double figures was threatened. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the rock – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's astounding run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said in response on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Play Delivers the Game

James could have attempted to win the game – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to dish the ball to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James celebrated triumphantly.

“Just playing basketball the right way. You always make the right play,” James noted. That has always been how I operate. That’s how I learned to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is very conscious of how many points he's scored at any point,” stated Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest one last time with just over five minutes left, the win along with the historic run up for grabs. He had six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to level the contest then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go which could have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take another shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him with a few seconds left, however, James chose to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

The History of a Monumental Record

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

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

He simply plays hoops. The chance was there but due to the player he is and his character as an individual, he executed the unselfish play, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures was usually an afterthought early in the final period. Throughout his run, he had reached double figures entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

However, two such games below ten points through three quarters took place recently: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it finished – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. “You make the right play, the basketball gods forever giving back to me.”