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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of reaching double digits was at risk. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak was over.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped during a recent game, as the league's career points king had only eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot to win the game.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Play Secures the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – and preserved his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, prompting James celebrated immediately.

It's about playing basketball the right way. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my philosophy. It's how I learned the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he has at all times,” said the team's head coach the coach. He acted like he’s done so many times.”

The Record's End Game

He returned to the game for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. His tally was only six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have taken him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – but could have. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

James's streak began over eighteen years ago. It stood as the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: MJ had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but due to his nature as a player and just who he is as a person, he executed the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been an afterthought well before the final period. Throughout his run, he had achieved ten points by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two such games below ten points after three periods had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – yet he was celebrating all the same.

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. When you make the unselfish play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”