🔗 Share this article

James understood his historic run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. When it mattered most, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move was to pass the rock – so he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record finished.

James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended during a recent game, when the league's career points king finished with a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Delivers Victory

He might have sought to clinch the game – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Rui connected, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball correctly. Always make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I learned to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

James is very conscious of how many points he's scored during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the game one last time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome along with the historic run up for grabs. He had a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a shot at 1:01 left that would have pushed him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, yet LeBron opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

The History of an Unparalleled Streak

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing hoops. He could have shot but given the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he executed the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Reaching double digits was usually an afterthought early in the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained ten points entering the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

However, two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had happened in the last week: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

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

I only ever make the correct play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. “You make the smart play, the sports deities forever returning the favor.”