🔗 Share this article

The Lakers star knew his incredible run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play was to pass the basketball – and he executed. Consequently, his remarkable run was over.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped during a recent game, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James stated after being questioned on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Selfless Play Secures the Win

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and preserved his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted immediately.

It's about playing basketball the right way. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

“LeBron is very conscious of how many points he's scored at all times,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play like he’s done countless times.”

The Streak's End Game

James re-entered the game for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go which could have gotten him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, but James chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Staggering Run

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the longest streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list at 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing hoops. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee early in the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

But two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had happened in the last week: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive against the Suns. The very next outing, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.

“I always just make the right play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. “You make the unselfish play, the game gods forever returning the favor.”