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The Lakers star knew his incredible run of reaching double digits was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record finished.

James's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances concluded this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He made the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied when asked on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Choice Seals Victory

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to dish the ball to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game correctly. Always make the right play,” James noted. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed the game. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at any point,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it just as he has so many times.”

The Record's Final Moments

James re-entered the game one last time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points from a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have pushed him to double digits.

He didn’t take one more attempt – but could have. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they tend to reward you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Streak

James's streak started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the longest double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

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

He focuses on playing the sport. He could have shot but because of the player he is and his character as an individual, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been an afterthought long before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

But two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had happened in the last week: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it finished – but he still rejoiced all the same.

I only ever make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. “You make the right play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”