🔗 Share this article

James understood his monumental run of scoring in double figures was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

James's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped during a recent game, when the league's career points king was limited to a mere eight points in the Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He made the decisive pass, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said after being questioned about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers Victory

James could have sought to clinch the contest – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James exulted triumphantly.

It's about playing the game correctly. You always make the right play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. It's how I learned the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he's scored during a game,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play as he has done so many times.”

The Record's Final Moments

He returned to the floor one last time with 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak on the line. At that stage, he had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that would have gotten him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, but James decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it correctly, they will reward you,” the coach concluded.

The History of a Monumental Record

This incredible run commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the longest streak of its kind in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list at 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays hoops. He had the opportunity but because of his nature as a player and his personality as an individual, he made the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually a guarantee well before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had reached the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters had happened in the last week: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – yet he was celebrating regardless.

“I always just make the correct play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. “You make the smart play, the basketball gods forever rewarding me.”