LeBron James has been omitted from the NBA All-Star starters for the first time in 22 years, ending his record run of 20 consecutive starts. The 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward could still be selected as a reserve by coaches or receive an injury replacement invitation from Commissioner Adam Silver.
The starters, announced on Monday, include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama, who are expected to form the first-ever World team. They will face two teams of US players in a new three-team, round-robin tournament on 15 February.
James was not an All-Star in his rookie season. His record streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with at least 10 points ended in December, and he has missed 17 games this season, affecting his eligibility for postseason awards. He was an All-NBA second-teamer last season.
The new format, long discussed, aims to boost interest in the midseason showcase. Starters were determined by a weighted formula: 50% fan vote, 25% media panel, and 25% player vote.
