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The Lakers star knew his historic streak of reaching double digits was in danger. When it mattered most, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run was over.

James's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended this past Thursday, when the league's career points king finished with eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“Zero,” James said after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Play Seals Victory

He might have tried to secure the game – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Make the correct play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I learned the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

James is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Record's Final Moments

He returned to the game one last time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. He had six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that would have taken him to ten points.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves passed him the ball with a few seconds left, however, James decided to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they will repay you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Record

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the longest double-digit streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

He is such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays hoops. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and his character as a person, he executed the pass, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been an afterthought long before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had achieved ten points entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters had happened just days before: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. “You make the smart play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”