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

The smart move meant distributing the rock – and he executed. Following that play, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Choice Secures the Game

James could have attempted to win the contest – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Rui connected, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game the right way. Make the right play,” James noted. That has always been my M.O.. That’s how I learned to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he has during a game,” commented the team's head coach the coach. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Streak's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and his personal record up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points from 3-of-15 shooting then.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that would have pushed him into double figures.

He didn’t take one more attempt – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

This incredible run began back in January 2007. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” remarked teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing hoops. He could have shot but due to his nature as a player and his character off the court, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been an afterthought long before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had reached ten points entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

But two such single-digit games through three quarters had occurred recently: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it finished – yet he was celebrating regardless.

“I always just make the correct play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. If you make the smart play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”