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LeBron James was aware his historic run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – and he executed. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

James's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Play Seals Victory

He might have sought to clinch the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to dish the ball to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, and James exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Always make the smart play,” James remarked. That is my philosophy. That’s how I was taught the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

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

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the game for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the outcome along with the historic run up for grabs. He had only six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to tie the game then 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. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron opted to make the extra pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they will repay you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

The record commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the longest 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 recorded with 575.

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

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but given his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually an afterthought long before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters took place just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. One game later, it concluded – but he still rejoiced anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the right play, the basketball gods forever giving back to me.”