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

The correct basketball play involved passing the basketball – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak finished.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Decision Seals Victory

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball the right way. Always make the correct play,” James remarked. That is my M.O.. That’s how I was taught to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

He is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done countless times.”

The Run's End Game

James re-entered the floor for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the result along with the historic run on the line. He had only six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a shot at one minute to go that would have pushed him into double figures.

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

The spirits of the game, if you do it the proper way, they often reward you,” the coach concluded.

The History of an Unparalleled Streak

The record began back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but given his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he executed the pass, found Rui and secured the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually a guarantee long before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two such games below ten points after three periods took place just days before: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

I only ever make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. When you make the right play, the sports deities are always giving back to me.”