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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, as the league's career points king finished with a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura for a triple at the buzzer.

“None,” James replied when asked about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Choice Secures Victory

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the game – and preserved his record – with the last shot, but he chose to pass to Rui in the left corner. Rui connected, and James celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing the game correctly. Make the smart play,” James noted. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I was taught to play. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

He is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Record's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had only six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that would have gotten him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they will reward you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Monumental Streak

This incredible run commenced back in January 2007. It stood as the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

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

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and his character as an individual, he chose the team play, passed it to Rui and we won the victory.”

Reaching double digits was usually a formality early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had attained the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

My focus is to make the best play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the right play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”