🔗 Share this article

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

The right decision meant distributing the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James said in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Decision Seals Victory

James could have tried to secure the contest – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing the game the right way. Make the right play,” James remarked. That has always been my M.O.. That’s how I was instructed the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is very conscious of how many points he's scored during a game,” commented the team's head coach the coach. He made the play like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest one last time at 5:23 remaining, the outcome along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. His tally was only six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that would have gotten him into double figures.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it correctly, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Record

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and his character as an individual, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been a formality long before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved double figures entering the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods had occurred just days before: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

I only ever make the best play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. If you make the smart play, the sports deities consistently rewarding me.”