LeBron James' amazing 10-point streak comes to an end after 1,297 games and nearly 19 years

LeBron James' extraordinary streak of scoring at least 10 points in consecutive NBA games came to a close on Thursday. For the first time since January 5, 2007just days after his 22nd birthdaythe Los Angeles Lakers superstar finished a game with fewer than 10 points.

This streak spanned an unprecedented 1,297 games, far surpassing the previous record held by Michael Jordan at 866 games. Currently, Kevin Durant leads the active streak list at 267 games, roughly a fifth of James' historic run.

In Thursday's game against the Toronto Raptors, James managed only eight points on a 4-of-17 shooting night. With the score tied at 120 in the closing seconds, he received the ball from teammate Austin Reaves but passed it to Rui Hachimura, who hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure a 123-120 Lakers victory.

James commented on the final play: "I was just playing the game the right way. You always make the right play. That's been my approach throughout my career. When the ball came to me, it was a numbers advantage, and Rui finished it perfectly."

The Lakers were also without Luka Doni, who missed the game for the birth of his second child. Reaves led the team with 44 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds, while James contributed 11 assists and 6 rebounds without committing any turnovers, showing his impact beyond scoring.

James' streak, which exceeded Jordan's record in 2018, highlights not only his scoring ability but also his remarkable consistency and durability. From his fifth season through his 22nd, he scored in double figures in every single game, including eight NBA Finals appearances without ever falling below 10 points.

To put the timeline in perspective, January 5, 2007, was a historic moment across sports and tech: Peyton Manning had yet to win his first Super Bowl, Barry Bonds had not yet become MLB's all-time home run leader, Stephen Curry and Tim Tebow were just starting their college careers, Novak Djokovic was more than a year from his first Grand Slam, and Apple was about to announce the first iPhone.

LeBron James remains the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 42,268 points, and while his scoring streak has ended, its legacy as one of the most impressive feats in sports history is secure.

Author: Caleb Jennings