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The Lakers star knew his incredible streak of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision was to pass the basketball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer had only a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He made the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura for a triple as time expired.

“None,” James stated when asked about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals Victory

He might have tried to secure the contest – and extended the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to dish the ball to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

You have to play the game correctly. You always make the correct play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. It's how I was instructed the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is very conscious of his point total he's scored at all times,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome along with the historic run up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a shot with 1:01 left that might have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, however, James decided to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it the proper way, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Monumental Streak

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

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

He simply plays the sport. He could have shot but because of the player he is and his personality off the court, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a guarantee well before the final period. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – yet he was celebrating all the same.

“I always just make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the smart play, the game gods consistently giving back to me.”