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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, as basketball's greatest scorer had only eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He made the game-winning assist, finding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“None,” James stated in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Decision Secures the Win

He might have sought to clinch the contest – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, and James exulted immediately.

You have to play basketball correctly. Make the correct play,” James explained. That is how I operate. That’s how I learned the game. I've played that way my whole career.”

He is very conscious of how many points he's scored during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game but then missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that might have gotten him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, however, James opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Record

The record started back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest such streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing hoops. He had the opportunity but given his nature as a player and his personality off the court, he made the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a formality long before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had reached double figures entering the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had happened just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. When you make the right play, the sports deities consistently returning the favor.”