LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is showing no signs of slowing down, even as he enters his 22nd season in the NBA. He has once again earned a spot in the All-Star Game, proving his steady performance through the years.
This year, the NBA named James as one of the starters for the upcoming All-Star Game when the list of starters from both conferences was revealed on Thursday. With this selection, James reaches his 21st All-Star appearance in a row and marks his 20th straight time as a starter.
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According to information released by the Lakers’ media team, no player has ever reached those numbers before. He will also make history as the first player who is over 40 years old to be listed as a starter in the All-Star Game.
In 2023, he broke a previous record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by reaching his 20th All-Star selection. That record placed him at the top of the list for most selections in league history.
Why He Earned the All-Star Spot
The method for selecting All-Star starters is based on a combined voting system. Half of the votes come from fans, while NBA players contribute 25 percent and media members make up the remaining 25 percent. Each conference selects five starters, made up of two guards and three frontcourt players.
Lakers coach JJ Redick explained ahead of their game against the Boston Celtics on Thursday that while popularity sometimes plays a role in these decisions, James’s current performance supports his place in the starting lineup.
According to Redick, it is not just a case of a player getting recognition because of reputation. He believes James is still competing at an elite level and described the All-Star selection as well-earned. He added that this is just one more achievement in James’s already crowded trophy cabinet.
So far this season, James is putting up 23.7 points per game, alongside 9 assists and 7.5 rebounds. He has been managing a left foot issue, which has appeared in recent injury updates, but it hasn’t stopped him from performing at a high standard.
LeBron’s History in the All-Star Game
Throughout his All-Star career, James has built up some strong numbers. He has scored 434 points, collected 114 rebounds, and dished out 113 assists across 20 appearances in the exhibition game.
His stats also include 22 steals and 41 successful three-pointers out of 138 tries, giving him a shooting percentage of about 29.7 from deep during the All-Star contests.
Each year he returns, LeBron James continues to show that age has not limited his ability to perform at basketball’s top stage. His All-Star history now stretches across two decades and remains one of the most impressive achievements in modern sports.
