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The Lakers star knew his incredible streak of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the ball – so he did. With that selfless act, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, as the league's career points king had only eight total points during the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer to win the game.

“None,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Decision Secures Victory

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the game – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Rui connected, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the proper way. You always make the smart play,” James noted. “That’s just been how I operate. It's how I was instructed the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is very conscious of his point total he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play as he has done countless times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the game one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had only six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left which could have taken him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

The record commenced back in January 2007. It was, by far the greatest double-digit streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

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

He simply plays the sport. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and his character off the court, he chose the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – yet he was celebrating anyway.

“I always just make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always returning the favor.”