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James understood his monumental run of scoring in double figures was threatened. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances was snapped during a recent game, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Play Delivers the Win

James could have attempted to win the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to Rui in the left corner. Rui connected, with LeBron raised his arms triumphantly.

“Just playing the game the proper way. Always make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I learned the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant exactly how many points he has at any point,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go which could have taken him to double digits.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to dish it off instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the proper way, they will reward you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Monumental Streak

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

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the sport. He could have shot but due to the player he is and his personality as an individual, he executed the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually an afterthought long before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods had occurred just days before: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it finished – but he still rejoiced all the same.

“I always just make the right play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James said. “You make the right play, the game gods forever rewarding me.”