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LeBron James was aware his historic run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the rock – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight points during the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – while also extending his record – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Rui connected, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game correctly. Make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been my philosophy. That is the way I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of how many points he's scored at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has so many times.”

The Record's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record up for grabs. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that might have pushed him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron opted to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

The record started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but given the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually an afterthought early in the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – but he still rejoiced all the same.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. If you make the right play, the basketball gods forever giving back to me.”