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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of putting up 10+ points was at risk. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The smart move meant distributing the ball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He provided the game-winning assist, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot as time expired.

“Nothing,” James replied in response about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Choice Seals the Game

He might have tried to secure the game – and preserved his record – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted immediately.

It's about playing the game the right way. You always make the right play,” James explained. That is how I operate. That’s how I was instructed the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play as he has done countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the floor for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome and the streak on the line. He had six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a shot at one minute to go that might have pushed him to double digits.

He didn’t take another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, however, James chose to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you do it the right way, they will repay you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Monumental Record

The record commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the most extended streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing the sport. He could have shot but given the player he is and just who he is off the court, he made the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points had long been a guarantee long before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

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

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. The very next outing, it was over – yet he was celebrating all the same.

I only ever make the best play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. When you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”