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LeBron James was aware his incredible run of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The right decision meant distributing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances was snapped this past Thursday, when the league's career points king finished with eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“None,” James said when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Decision Delivers Victory

He might have attempted to win the game – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, yet he opted to pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play the game the right way. Make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. That is the way I was instructed the game. I've played that way my whole career.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he has at any point,” said the team's head coach the coach. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the contest one last time at 5:23 remaining, the win along with the historic run up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that would have pushed him to ten points.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron chose to make the pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the longest such streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays hoops. The chance was there but due to the player he is and his personality as an individual, he made the pass, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained ten points entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters took place just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – yet he was celebrating regardless.

I only ever make the best play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always returning the favor.”