🔗 Share this article

The Lakers star knew his incredible run of scoring in double figures was in danger. When it mattered most, however, it didn't concern him.

The right decision meant distributing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record was over.

LeBron's astounding run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded during a recent game, as the league's career points king was limited to eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Play Delivers the Game

He might have sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Rui connected, prompting James exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the right way. Make the correct play,” James remarked. That is how I operate. That’s how I was taught the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is very conscious of his point total he's scored at any point,” said the team's head coach the coach. He acted just as he has countless times.”

The Record's Final Moments

He returned to the floor for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left which could have pushed him to ten points.

He passed up one more attempt – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him as time wound down, yet LeBron opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the proper way, they tend to repay you,” Redick added.

The History of a Staggering Run

The record commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the most extended such streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays hoops. He had the opportunity but because of who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he made the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

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 start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had occurred in the last week: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

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

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the smart play, the sports deities consistently rewarding me.”