For nearly two decades, consistency followed Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James everywhere he went.
That run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with at least 10 points did not end quietly. It ended in the most fitting way possible. With the game on the line, James passed up a late scoring opportunity and instead found an open Rui Hachimura in the corner. The shot fell. The Lakers won.
The streak was over. The result mattered more.
In the moments after the game, James brushed aside any focus on the number itself, emphasizing that the win was the only thing that mattered. There was no frustration. No regret. Just perspective.
Weeks later, James revisited the moment in greater detail.
On a recent episode of the Mind the Game podcast, released today, LeBron opened up about why the streak was never something he chased and why allowing it to end in that moment felt completely natural.
Why James Never Treated the Streak as a Goal
GettyLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after shooting a three-pointer during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers.
James made it clear that the number was never a target.
“You know, I’m a guy that goes to the bench and I like to look at the stat sheet. I like to look at what I’m shooting from the field. I like to be super efficient,” James said. “I’d be lying if I said that I don’t know how many points I have at any given moment of the game, but I don’t go into a game… saying, ‘I have to get 10 points. I have to keep this streak going.’ That would be a disservice to me and the way I play the game.”
That explanation fits how LeBron has always operated. He is aware. He is calculating. But he does not play to preserve individual milestones at the expense of flow or decision-making.
For the Lakers, that mindset has defined his tenure. The offense bends around reads, spacing, and timing. Not box scores.
Lakers Game That Ended the Streak Told the Whole Story
The night the streak ended captured that philosophy perfectly.
James struggled to find rhythm as a scorer. The shots were there, but the touch was not. Instead of forcing attempts late just to reach a round number, he leaned into what he still does better than almost anyone in the league.
Create advantages.
Late in the game, with the score tight, James drew defenders and delivered the ball on time to Rui Hachimura for a buzzer-beating three. It sealed the win and quietly closed the book on one of the most remarkable statistical runs in NBA history.
James acknowledged he knew exactly where he stood.
“Yeah, I was clearly aware,” he said. “I had a couple of shots in that game… that would have put me up to 11 points that literally hit all rim… and then came out. I was like, ‘Okay, it’s one of those nights.’”
What the Streak Ending Actually Says About LeBron
Before LeBron, Michael Jordan held the previous mark at 866 games. James pushed it nearly 500 games further. The number itself is staggering.
But the way it ended may be even more revealing.
James did not chase a layup. He did not hunt a foul. He did not bend the offense to serve the streak.
Instead, he trusted the read and the teammate.
That choice says more about his career than the streak ever could.
Final Word for the Lakers
The streak is over, but the reasoning behind it never changed.
LeBron has always understood the weight of history. He has simply refused to let it dictate his decisions when the game is on the line. Passing to the open man, trusting the read, and securing the win came first.
For the Lakers, that mindset still matters more than any record attached to his name.
The streak did not fade away. It ended with a winning play. And in James’ own telling, that is exactly how it was supposed to happen.
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