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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, as the league's career points king was limited to eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied when asked on the record concluding. “We won.”

An Unselfish Play Seals the Game

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the game – and extended his record – with the last shot, but he chose to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted immediately.

“Just playing basketball the right way. You always make the right play,” James explained. “That’s just been my philosophy. That is the way I learned the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

“LeBron is very conscious exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” stated the team's head coach the coach. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He scored with 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a shot with one minute to go that might have pushed him into double figures.

He avoided taking one more attempt – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball as time wound down, but James decided to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the right way, they often reward you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Monumental Record

The record started back in January 2007. It was easily the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

He is such an unselfish player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court 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 formality well before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had occurred recently: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – yet he was celebrating anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”