LeBron James has been left off the list of NBA All-Star Game starters for the first time in 22 years, ending a remarkable streak. The 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star, who has been named an All-Star in every season since his rookie year, will now have to rely on being selected as a reserve by NBA head coaches or as an injury replacement by Commissioner Adam Silver.
The NBA announced the 10 starters on Monday, with five from each conference. The World team, a new addition this year, features Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama. The US teams include Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. The All-Star Game, set for 15 February at the Los Angeles Clippers' home arena, will adopt a new format: a three-team, round-robin tournament with 12-minute mini-games.
James, in his record-setting 23rd season, has already missed 17 games this season, making him ineligible for most postseason awards unless he plays in every remaining Lakers game. His streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with at least 10 points ended in December. Despite this, he remains a likely candidate for an All-Star reserve spot, with coaches voting on the 14 remaining places.
Gilgeous-Alexander, named a starter for the first time, expressed his excitement: 'It’s still as special as the first one was, honestly. I grew up watching All-Star games as a kid, dreaming about playing in them.' Starters were chosen through a weighted formula: 50% fan vote, 25% media panel and 25% player vote.
