One of the most remarkable individual records in sporting history has finally come to an end. LeBron James' incredible streak of scoring at least 10 points in NBA regular season games concluded at 1,266 consecutive matches on Thursday night, as his Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Toronto Raptors.
The Selfless Play That Ended an Era
The historic run, which began on 6 January 2007, was halted not by a poor performance but by a moment of trademark selflessness. With the game tied in the final seconds, James received the ball but chose to pass to teammate Rui Hachimura in the corner rather than take the shot himself. Hachimura's three-pointer swished through the net as time expired, securing the Lakers' win.
James finished the contest with just eight points, marking the first time in over 18 years he failed to reach double digits. He had entered the final quarter needing four points to keep the streak alive. Despite a chance to tie the game with a 14-foot shot with just over a minute remaining, which he missed, the ultimate decision to pass in the dying moments was a conscious one.
A Record Far Beyond Any Other
The longevity of James' achievement is almost incomprehensible. His 1,266-game streak is by far the longest in NBA history, dwarfing the previous records held by basketball legends. For context:
- Michael Jordan's streak stood at 866 games.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar managed 787 consecutive games.
- Karl Malone's run was 575 games.
During this near-two-decade span, James had been in a position of needing to reach 10 points in the fourth quarter on 1,266 occasions prior to Thursday. He had successfully done so every single time, until now.
Team First: The Philosophy Behind the Pass
When asked about the streak ending, James' response was succinct and focused on the collective. 'Nothing,' he stated. 'We won.' This attitude was echoed by his coach and teammates, who praised his unwavering commitment to making the right basketball play.
'LeBron is very aware of how many points he has in the moment,' said Lakers head coach JJ Redick. 'He did what he has done so many times.' Redick added, 'The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, tend to reward you.'
Teammate Rui Hachimura revealed James had foreseen the play, telling him just before the final possession: 'I got you. It's going to come to you.' Lakers pivot Jake LaRavia summed up the sentiment in the locker room, calling James 'a selfless player' who 'just plays basketball.'
The streak had shown signs of vulnerability recently, with James scoring only nine points through three quarters against Dallas in late November and six through three against Phoenix earlier in the week. He managed to extend it against the Suns, but one game later, his legendary consistency met its conclusion—sealed with a winning assist and raised arms in celebration.
