🔗 Share this article

LeBron James was aware his historic streak of scoring in double figures was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the ball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, finding teammate Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer to win the game.

“None,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Play Seals Victory

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the game – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to dish the ball to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball the right way. Always make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

James is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done countless times.”

The Record's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the contest one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was six points on a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a shot at 1:01 left which could have taken him into double figures.

He passed up one more attempt – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you do it correctly, they tend to reward you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

This incredible run started on Jan. 6, 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 Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

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

He focuses on playing the sport. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is as a person, he executed the team play, found Rui and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a guarantee well before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

But two such single-digit games through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the right play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James said. When you make the right play, the basketball gods forever giving back to me.”