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James understood his incredible run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision involved passing the ball – and he executed. Following that play, the unprecedented record finished.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, when the league's career points king was limited to eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He made the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James said when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

A Team-First Choice Delivers Victory

He might have attempted to win the contest – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James exulted triumphantly.

“Just playing basketball correctly. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I learned the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he has at any point,” said the team's head coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Record's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest one last time with just over five minutes left, the win and his personal record both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that would have taken him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, however, James opted to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Monumental Run

This incredible run commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the sport. The chance was there but because of the player he is and his character as an individual, he chose the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually an afterthought well before the final period. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, followed by six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it finished – but he still rejoiced anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James affirmed. “You make the unselfish play, the game gods consistently returning the favor.”