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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of reaching double digits was threatened. When it mattered most, however, he wasn't bothered.

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

LeBron's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, when the league's career points king had only eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, setting up Rui Hachimura for a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Choice Delivers the Game

James could have attempted to win the contest – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, and James celebrated immediately.

You have to play the game correctly. You always make the smart play,” James noted. That has always been my philosophy. It's how I was taught the game. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored during a game,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game but then missed a shot at 1:01 left that would have taken him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, however, James opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they tend to repay you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Staggering Run

James's streak commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: MJ had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but given who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he made the unselfish play, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had long been an afterthought long before the final period. Throughout his run, he had reached the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

My focus is to make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the basketball gods consistently rewarding me.”