All good things must come to an end.
On Friday, December 5 (PH time), LeBron James’ remarkable streak of consecutive double-digit scoring games in the regular season came to a close at 1,297 after finishing with just eight points on 4-of-17 shooting.
[ALSO READ: Rui Hachimura saves the day as Luka Doncic-less Lakers survive Raptors]
But true to form, the 40-year-old still made the play that mattered most.
His 11th and final assist set up Rui Hachimura’s game-winning shot, lifting the Lakers to a thrilling 123-120 victory over the Raptors.
When asked about the streak ending, James was simple simple: “None. We won.”
It was the first time James had been held to single digits since January 5, 2007—and a lot has changed in the 18 years since.
Felt like a lifetime
Back then, James was a 22-year-old basketball star who reached his first NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing to the San Antonio Spurs, 0-4, behind the dominant trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.
Fast forward, and James has won four NBA titles, four Finals MVPs, three regular-season MVPs, become the league’s all-time leading scorer, and cemented his place among the greatest—if not the greatest—players in NBA history.
To put the streak in perspective, Luka Doncic, James’ teammate and rising superstar, was just eight years old in Slovenia back in 2007.
Bronny James, LeBron’s son, was barely two and Hachimura, the late-game hero, was about to turn nine.
Only six current NBA players—Mike Conley, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Al Horford, Kyle Lowry, and Chris Paul—were active the last time James was held under double digits, while current Lakers coach JJ Redick was just starting his rookie season with the Orlando Magic
In other sports at that time, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were deep in their tennis rivalry as Novak Djokovic wasn’t a Grand Slam champion yet.
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were only beginning their ascent to global superstardom.
The last time James was held to single digits, the first iPhone was just announced.
And by the time it launched on June 29, his Cavaliers had already been swept by the Spurs in his first NBA Finals trip.
Popular American sitcom The Sopranos—a show LeBron counted among his favorites—was still months away from its finale, while singer-songwriter Taylor Swift was just emerging as a pop sensation with hits like “Teardrops on My Guitar” and “Our Song.”
Much has changed
In Philippine sports context, the last time James was held to single digits, the Alaska Aces rallied from a 2-3 Finals deficit to defeat Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals, winning former head coach Tim Cone’s 12th PBA title at that time.
At that time, Philippine basketball was in turmoil.
The country is on the back-end of suspension handed by FIBA and barred from international competition following a rift between the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the national federation, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP).
It only ended with the creation of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), paving the way for the national team to compete in the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship—its first official tournament since the ban.
Nine-time PBA MVP and San Miguel star Junemar Fajardo was months away from turning 18, still years from making his mark with the University of Cebu Webmasters in the CESAFI.
In collegiate basketball, the DLSU Green Archers, led by co-Finals MVPs Javee Casio and Cholo Villanueva, swept the 14-0 UE Red Warriors—featuring Mark Borboran, Marcy Arellano, Elmer Espiritu and a young Paul Lee—to claim their fifth title in the Final Four era.
In women’s volleyball, Venus Bernal powered the UST Growling Tigresses to sweep the Rachel Anne Daquis-led FEU Lady Tamaraws for the UAAP crown.
Back in 2007, the PVL hadn’t even been born, and Manny Pacquiao was cementing his status as a global icon after defeating Marco Antonio Barrera via unanimous decision in a rematch of their first meeting in 2003, where the Filipino Pride scored a TKO in Round 11.
Though LeBron’s streak has ended, its span across four Philippine presidents and seven elections that highlights his unparalleled consistency over 23 seasons.
Now, Durant holds the longest active streak at 562 games—but to match LeBron’s record, he would need nearly 12 more seasons of perfect play.
Always the "right play"
Caught between extending his record streak of 1,297 consecutive double-digit games or passing to an open Hachimura for the potential game-winner, James did what he’s done for 23 years in the league and made the right play.
“The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
On this night, James and the Lakers were rewarded—though it came at the cost of ending one of the most remarkable streaks in basketball history.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.