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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the ball – and he executed. Consequently, his remarkable run was over.

James's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as the league's career points king finished with a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Decision Delivers the Win

He might have attempted to win the game – and preserved his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, prompting James celebrated immediately.

It's about playing basketball the right way. Always make the right play,” James remarked. That has always been how I operate. That’s how I learned the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is very conscious of his point total he's scored during a game,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Streak's Final Moments

He returned to the floor one last time at just over five minutes left, the result along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to tie the game but then missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left which could have taken him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they will reward you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Staggering Run

The record started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the greatest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and his personality as a person, he executed the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually a guarantee long before the final period. Throughout his run, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had happened in the last week: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the best play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever returning the favor.”