LeBron James’ 10-point scoring streak will be remembered as one of the greatest records in NBA history.
James scored 10 or more points over 1,297 consecutive games from January 2007 to December 2025.
Some wondered whether the streak would ever end, but the 41-year-old finally came unstuck against the Toronto Raptors earlier this month.
He finished with eight points after passing up the final shot to Rui Hachimura for a game-winning corner three.
James has now reflected on his record coming to an end, admitting that it nearly happened four years ago.
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LeBron James nearly broke 10-point scoring streak in 2021
James told Steve Nash on the Mind the Game podcast that he nearly broke his 10-point scoring streak back in 2021.
James had just seven points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks when he suffered an injury to his right ankle.
However, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar scored a fadeaway three-pointer to reach 10 points before exiting the game.
“There were some close calls, for sure. I don’t know if it was 2021 or 2022 when I was playing some of the best basketball of my career, even at that stage of my career,” James recalled.
“We were playing Atlanta, and my leg got rolled up on. Anytime that I’ve sprained my ankle or whatever, I’ve had this routine of, ‘Okay, you feel it, but let’s just tighten your shoes and let’s get going.’
“I played through it a little bit more. I was on the left wing, got a pass, and hit a three. I think that actually put me up to 10 points, and my leg started getting really hot. I could barely run.
“I had to come out of the game and, long story short, I was out four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain. That was one of the moments where it very easily could have ended that night.”
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LeBron James never focused on scoring 10 points every game
James’ scoring streak became one of the biggest talking points in the NBA in the last few seasons, as it extended to over 1,000 games.
Any time he was still in single figures in the fourth quarter, fans would begin to question whether this would be the day it ended.
Still, James maintains that he never set out to score 10 points and just let it happen naturally.
“For me, it was never even a thought,” he continued. “Once people started talking about it more and more every day, human nature kicks in.
“When I go to the bench, I like to look at the stat sheet. I like to look at team turnovers, personal turnovers, fastbreak points, points off turnovers, and what I’m shooting from the field. I like to be efficient.
“I’d be lying if I said I don’t know how many points I have at any given moment, but I never went into any game during the streak saying, ‘I have to get 10 points.’
“That would be a disservice to me and the way I play the game. And it showed how I’ve always played the game in how the streak ended.”
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