LeBron James shrugs off end of legendary scoring streak – Basketball Insider
LeBron James’ NBA-record streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with at least 10 points is over, but he’s not backing down. The 40-year-old star scored just eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Instead of chasing another goal, he chose the game that won him the game.
James told reporters he helped his team win, ending the streak in the “best way possible.”
Continuously over the past twenty years
This streak began on January 6, 2007. It spans nearly 19 years, covering multiple teams and experiencing changes in teammates, roles and coaching staffs.
During that run, he set a standard of consistency that few can match. He’s now over four hundred behind the next closest race.
Everything changed that night
On Thursday, James made 4 of 17 shots and missed all five of his 3-point attempts. With seconds left in the game, he broke through with the ball, stretched the defense, and passed to Hachimura. Hachimura hit a corner three-pointer to help the Lakers win and officially end their winning streak.
Then, James simply said: “No. We won.”
He follows his career philosophy: make the right plays. As teammate Austin Reeves said, this decision shows basketball IQ and leadership.
What does the end of a winning streak mean?
The end of the streak was more symbolic than strategic. The Lakers are still the top team in the Western Conference. Their 16-5 record and path to the playoffs shows that this team remains an elite team.
Still, the end of an era resonates. For nearly 20 years, James has been scoring in double digits night after night. He never wavered. Few players in NBA history have achieved this level of sustained dominance and reliability.
But for now, James has proven that he values team success over individual milestones. That mentality and assists may be more important than any winning streak.
