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James understood his monumental run of scoring in double figures was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move meant distributing the ball – and he executed. Following that play, the unprecedented record finished.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points in the Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Decision Delivers Victory

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and extended the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron raised his arms with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the proper way. Make the smart play,” James remarked. That is how I operate. It's how I learned to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

James is fully cognizant exactly how many points he has during a game,” commented the team's head coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the game for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win along with the historic run on the line. His tally was a mere six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He scored at 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a shot at one minute to go which could have pushed him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, however, James opted to dish it off instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it correctly, they will repay you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Record

The record commenced back in January 2007. It stood as the longest double-digit streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.

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

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but given the player he is and just who he is off the court, he made the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures was usually an afterthought well before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had achieved ten points entering the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

Yet two such games below ten points through three quarters took place just days before: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the best play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the right play, the basketball gods are always returning the favor.”