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James understood his incredible run of scoring in double figures was threatened. In that crucial moment, though, it didn't concern him.

The right decision was to pass the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, his remarkable run finished.

James's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer to win the game.

“None,” James said after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Play Secures Victory

He might have attempted to win the game – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play basketball correctly. Always make the correct play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I was instructed the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of how many points he's scored during a game,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the game for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a shot at 1:01 left that might have taken him to ten points.

He avoided taking one more attempt – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it correctly, they often repay you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Monumental Record

James's streak began on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is as a person, he made the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a guarantee long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two of those rare single-digit games after three periods took place just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.

I only ever make the correct play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. If you make the right play, the sports deities consistently giving back to me.”