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LeBron James was aware his historic run of reaching double digits was threatened. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision was to pass the rock – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak was over.

James's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to eight total points in the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied when asked on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals the Game

He might have sought to clinch the contest – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to dish the ball to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron celebrated immediately.

“Just playing basketball the right way. You always make the right play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. That is the way I learned the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of his point total he has at any point,” said the team's head coach the coach. He made the play as he has done so many times.”

The Run's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the game one last time with 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go which could have pushed him to double digits.

He passed up a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves passed him the ball as time wound down, but James chose to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it the proper way, they often repay you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Monumental Streak

James's streak began over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the longest streak of its kind in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays hoops. He had the opportunity but due to his nature as a player and just who he is as a person, he chose the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been a formality early in the final period. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times before this game.

But two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had occurred recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – yet he was celebrating all the same.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. “You make the right play, the game gods forever rewarding me.”