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The Lakers star knew his monumental run of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision meant distributing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record was over.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended this past Thursday, as basketball's greatest scorer had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer to win the game.

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

A Team-First Choice Seals the Win

James could have tried to secure the game – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Rui connected, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game correctly. Always make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I was taught to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has so many times.”

The Record's Final Moments

James re-entered the contest one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. At that stage, he had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a shot with one minute to go that would have pushed him to ten points.

He avoided taking another shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and his character as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, found Rui and secured the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a formality early in the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

However, two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods took place just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it finished – yet he was celebrating anyway.

I only ever make the correct play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James declared. When you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”