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The Lakers star knew his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play involved passing the basketball – and he executed. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot as time expired.

“Zero,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals the Game

He might have tried to secure the game – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, yet he opted to dish the ball to Hachimura on the wing. Rui connected, and James exulted immediately.

“Just playing basketball the proper way. You always make the right play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

James is fully cognizant of how many points he has at any point,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the floor for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. He had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that would have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

The History of an Unparalleled Streak

The record began back in January 2007. It stood as the most extended streak of its kind the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing the sport. He could have shot but because of the player he is and his personality as a person, he chose the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been an afterthought long before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had reached ten points by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had happened just days before: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. “You make the right play, the basketball gods forever rewarding me.”