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James understood his incredible streak of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer had only a mere eight points in the Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“None,” James said in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Game

James could have tried to secure the contest – and preserved his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play the game correctly. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. It's how I was taught to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he's scored during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Run's Final Moments

He returned to the game for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had six points from 3-of-15 shooting then.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that would have gotten him to ten points.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, however, James decided to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, when you play it the right way, they tend to repay you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Staggering Run

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the longest such streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but given the player he is and his personality off the court, he executed the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

However, two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods had happened in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the correct play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the smart play, the game gods are always returning the favor.”