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One of the most impressive streaks in the history of sports, let alone in the NBA, ended Thursday night.
It was the first time LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, failed to score 10 or more points in a regular season game since Jan. 5, 2007, during his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The streak is now over at 1,297 games, by far the longest ever.
James had a chance to keep the streak alive with a game-winning basket, but he instead recorded an assist on Rui Hachimura’s 3-pointer as time expired to give the Los Angeles Lakers a 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots the ball over Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images)
The second-longest all-time streak is Michael Jordan’s 866. Kevin Durant, 37, is the new active leader with 267 games.
James knew he risked his streak ending with the pass, but this was the “perfect” way to end it.
“We won,” he said after the game.
“I always make the right play. It’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James added. “You make the right game – the gods of the game always give back to me.”
James was praised for his unselfish play afterward.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts after a win over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images)
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“He’s such an unselfish player,” Lakers center Jake LaRavia said, via ESPN. “He’s just playing basketball. He had the opportunity, but because of the player he is and just who he is as a person, he made the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”
“You tip your hat to a guy who just cares about winning and playing the right game,” Austin Reaves added. “That’s what he’s done his whole career.”
James has also been criticized for passing the ball in big moments, but “that aspect has been one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard,” he said.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after defeating the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on December 4, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
“We’re in the business of winning basketball games, and my whole life I’ve just played the game that way,” James said. “I’ve learned the game that way. I’ve won at every level I’ve played playing the game that way.”
