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LeBron James was aware his historic run of scoring in double figures was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten was snapped this past Thursday, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He made the decisive pass, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James replied in response on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Team-First Decision Seals the Win

He might have tried to secure the game – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing the game the right way. Always make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been my philosophy. It's how I was taught the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the win and his personal record on the line. His tally was a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have gotten him into double figures.

He passed up one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him with a few seconds left, but James opted to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

The record started back in January 2007. It was easily the longest double-digit streak in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but because of his nature as a player and his personality as a person, he chose the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points had typically been an afterthought early in the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James declared. When you make the right play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”