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LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of reaching double digits was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision meant distributing the ball – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run was over.

James's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with 10+ points concluded on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points during the Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the game-winning assist, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura for a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned on the record concluding. “We won.”

An Unselfish Play Delivers the Win

James could have tried to secure the game – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to dish the ball to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game correctly. You always make the smart play,” James noted. That has always been my philosophy. That is the way I was instructed to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at all times,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it as he has done so many times.”

The Streak's End Game

James re-entered the floor for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to tie the game and missed a shot with one minute to go which could have taken him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball as time wound down, but James chose to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you do it correctly, they often repay you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Staggering Run

The record began back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and just who he is as a person, he chose the unselfish play, found Rui and secured the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a formality early in the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had reached double figures entering the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

Yet two such single-digit games through three quarters had occurred just days before: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – but he still rejoiced all the same.

“I always just make the best play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James said. When you make the right play, the game gods consistently giving back to me.”