LeBron James was aware his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.
The smart move was to pass the rock – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run finished.
James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded during a recent game, when the league's career points king finished with a mere eight points during the Lakers' close win against Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer as time expired.
“None,” James said in response about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”
James could have tried to secure the game – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.
“Just playing basketball the proper way. Always make the correct play,” James remarked. That is my philosophy. That’s how I learned to play. That's what I've done throughout my career.”
“LeBron is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at any point,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done countless times.”
He returned to the game for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had only six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.
He scored at under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that would have taken him to double digits.
He avoided taking one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James decided to make the extra pass instead.
The basketball deities, when you play it the right way, they will repay you,” Redick stated.
This incredible run began over eighteen years ago. It was easily the greatest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.
LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.
“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but due to 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.”
Reaching double digits was usually a guarantee well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained double figures entering the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.
However, two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.
LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.
My focus is to make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. “You make the right play, the sports deities are always giving back to me.”
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