LeBron James saw his NBA-record 1,297 regular-season games in which he scored at least 10 points come to an end, but he didn’t back down. The 40-year-old star finished with just eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 123-120 win over the Toronto Raptors. Instead of chasing another target, he chose to win the game.
James told reporters that he ended the streak in “the best way” by helping his team win.
A series almost two decades in the making
That streak began on January 6, 2007. It lasted nearly 19 years, spanned multiple teams and survived changes in teammates, roles and coaching staff.
During that time, he set a standard for consistency that few can match. The next person he has now left behind is more than four hundred games behind.
The night everything changed
On Thursday, James shot 4-for-17 from the field and missed all five three-point attempts. With the game tied and seconds left, he drove in, drew the defense and passed out to Rui Hachimura. Hachimura grabbed the third corner, giving the Lakers the victory and officially ending the streak.
Afterwards, James simply said, “None. We won.”
He followed a philosophy throughout his career: make the right play. As teammate Austin Reaves put it, that decision was a testament to basketball IQ and leadership.
Which means the end of the series
The end of the streak has more symbolic than strategic weight. The Lakers remain a top-tier Western Conference team. Their 16-5 record and path to the playoffs show that the franchise remains elite.
Still, the end of an era resonates. For almost twenty years, James delivered double figures night after night. He never hesitated. Few players in NBA history can match such sustained dominance and reliability.
But for now, James has proven that he values team success over personal milestones. That mentality and that assist could matter more than any streak ever could.
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