The last time Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had failed to score double digits in a regular-season game, George W. Bush was still president and the first iPhone had just been introduced.
In the Lakers’ recent loss to the Phoenix Suns, James stayed in to start the fourth quarter even though the game was essentially out of reach to make sure he extended his historic double-digit scoring streak to 1,297 games.
What no one knew at the time, however, was that was as far as the streak would go. In Thursday night’s win over the Toronto Raptors, LeBron finished with just eight points on 4-of-17 shooting with six rebounds and 11 assists.
He had a chance to keep his streak going as Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the final seconds with the game tied at 120. James could have forced up a game-winning shot that if he made, his streak would keep going and if he missed, he would have more opportunities to get to double digits in overtime.
Instead though, LeBron immediately saw a double-team coming and passed to an open Rui Hachimura for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
When discussing his streak coming to an end with Dan Woike of The Athletic, James explained why he felt that was the perfect way for it to happen:
“This is the best way. If it had to end, the perfect ending for the streak is tonight,” James told The Athletic. “It’s literally who I am. That’s who I am. … It’s always been about: ‘How can I win the game? How can I make the right play and win the game?’ That streak just happened.”
Making the right basketball play is always something James has done with the game on the line. Despite being the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and putting together a streak that likely will never be matched though, he discussed why scoring has never been his priority:
“Being an all-time leading scorer was never a goal. Never,” James said. “I never had a goal of that. I wanted to lead the league in assists, multiple All-Stars and winning MVP and things like that. Starting a streak since ’07, no one says that. Beginning (in) 2007, I wasn’t like, ‘I’m about to start this double-digit streak.’ I just go out and play, and the game has given back to me, and it happened.
“And if it had to end, that’s the perfect way for me: making the right play.”
While James’ streak coming to an end is unfortunate, the important thing is that it came in a Lakers win as they improved to 16-5 and began their road trip on a high note.
LeBron James made ‘right play’ by passing to Rui Hachimura
LeBron James has often been criticized for passing up game-winning shot opportunities, but he made it clear that making the right play has always been his focus and that was the case once again when he found Rui Hachimura to secure a Lakers win over the Raptors.
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