On Thursday, Dec. 4, LeBron James’ legendary streak of double-digit scoring finally ended, but coach JJ Redick isn’t mourning it. The Los Angeles Lakers may have escaped Toronto with a dramatic win thanks to Rui Hachimura’s buzzer-beater, but all eyes were on the shocking moment that unfolded in the box score.
JJ Redick Glad that LeBron James’ Double-Digit Scoring Streak Is Over
For the first time since January 5, 2007, James failed to score at least 10 points in a regular-season game, snapping one of the most unbreakable streaks in sports. Redick’s response was surprisingly blunt.
James finished with eight points and 11 assists in the Lakers’ 123–120 win over the Raptors, going just 4-of-17 from the field.
The streak, which was a mind-bending 1,297 straight games with double-digit scoring, came to an end with the ball in his hands. But instead of forcing a shot to keep it alive, James found Rui Hachimura in the corner for a game-winning three.
Afterward, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin asked head coach JJ Redick about the impact of James’ streak ending. Redick didn’t hold back.
“In some ways, I’m really glad the streak is over so now we can stop talking about it,” Redick said.
McMenamin, with a playful jab, followed up by noting that Redick himself scored 10 or fewer points 322 times in his own playing career, making him more than “qualified” to discuss the challenge.
While Redick downplayed the historical significance, the end of James’ run does raise questions.
At 23 seasons in, and after missing the first 14 games of the year, the 40-year-old superstar is averaging 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists on 41.3 percent shooting. It’s a far cry from his career average of 27 points per game.
James Explains Why He Passed Instead of Scoring
Some fans might have wondered why James didn’t take one more shot to extend the streak. However, his postgame comments made it clear that he isn’t chasing numbers.
“Just playing the game the right way. You always make the right play,” James said. “That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”
His final assist, which was the kickout to Hachimura, sealed the Lakers’ 16th win of the season. Even with their loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday, the Lakers sit at 16–6 and remain firmly in the Western Conference’s top tier.
James’ streak eclipsed the NBA’s previous benchmark by a staggering margin. Michael Jordan’s second-longest stretch stood at 866 games, more than 400 shy of James’ record,  making LeBron’s run one of the most untouchable feats in league history.
Still, if Thursday night proved anything, it’s that James is operating with a different priority: winning, not padding numbers. And as Redick hinted, the Lakers are ready to move forward without the looming milestone overshadowing every scoring night.
