LeBron James’ record-setting streak of 1,297 consecutive double-digit scoring games — the longest in NBA history by a massive margin — came to an end on Thursday night as the Los Angeles Lakers secured a dramatic 123–120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. The 40-year-old four-time MVP scored eight points but delivered the game-winning assist to Rui Hachimura at the buzzer.
James missed all of his three-point attempts and shot just four of 17 from the field, but his decision to pass instead of forcing a final shot to save the streak won him praise from his coach and teammates. “Just playing the game the right way,” he said. “Always make the right play. That’s how I was taught.”
The streak, which began on January 6, 2007, outlasted the careers of several NBA players and dwarfed Michael Jordan’s previous benchmark of 866 games. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant also fall far behind on the historic list — cementing LeBron’s run as one of the most untouchable records in modern basketball.
Lakers coach JJ Redick highlighted how aware LeBron was of the moment but praised him for prioritizing team victory: “He did it like he’s done so many times,” Redick said. “He made the winning play.”
Even with the streak ending, James continued to make history this season — becoming the first player ever to surpass 50,000 combined regular-season and playoff points in March. His longevity, productivity and leadership remain unmatched across the league.
NBA fans across the world reacted emotionally to the end of an era, celebrating a run that spanned 18 years, multiple championships and countless reinventions of LeBron’s game. For many, the streak symbolized the consistency and dominance that have defined his legendary career.
Still, James made it clear: the night wasn’t about the record.
“We won,” he said with a shrug. “That’s what matters.”
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