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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of scoring in double figures was threatened. In that crucial moment, however, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play involved passing the ball – and he executed. With that selfless act, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, when the league's career points king was limited to eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer to win the game.

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

A Team-First Play Delivers the Game

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

“LeBron is very conscious exactly how many points he has at any point,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win along with the historic run on the line. He had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a shot with one minute to go that might have taken him to ten points.

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 make the pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they will repay you,” Redick added.

The History of a Staggering Streak

This incredible run commenced over eighteen years ago. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

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

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but because of his nature as a player and his character off the court, he chose the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had happened in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it finished – yet he was celebrating regardless.

My focus is to make the best play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever giving back to me.”