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James understood his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was at risk. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the legendary streak was over.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended this past Thursday, when the league's career points king had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He made the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals the Win

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the game – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game correctly. You always make the correct play,” James remarked. That has always been how I operate. It's how I was instructed to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

“LeBron is very conscious exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak on the line. He had only six points from a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have pushed him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball with a few seconds left, however, James decided to make the pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it correctly, they will bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

James's streak commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest such streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays hoops. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and his character as an individual, he chose the pass, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a guarantee long before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

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

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. When you make the right play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”