For the first time in more than two decades, LeBron James will not be announced as an NBA All-Star starter.
When the league revealed the results of its All-Star voting on Monday, James finished 8th in the Western Conference with just over 1.8 million votes, officially ending a streak that began back in his rookie season.
It marks the first time in 22 years that James did not earn a starting spot in the league’s midseason showcase, a run that had quietly become one of the most remarkable consistency records in modern sports.
James finished one position ahead of Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant and one spot behind Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards in the final fan tally.
His Lakers teammate Luka Doncic led all Western Conference players with more than 3.4 million votes, comfortably securing a starting role and taking over as the conference’s top vote-getter.
For much of his career, James’ All-Star appearances were as automatic as his place among the league’s elite.
His status as the NBA’s most recognizable player for nearly two decades was reflected every year when fan voting rolled around, regardless of team success, age, or outside criticism. All-Star weekend was simply another stage where James’ popularity remained untouchable.
This season, however, tells a slightly different story.
Now in his record 23rd NBA season, James has battled through injuries, including sciatica that forced him to miss the first 14 games of the year. He has appeared in 24 of the Lakers’ 41 games so far, averaging 22.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game, strong numbers, but a reminder that time has finally begun to narrow the gap.
Earlier this season, another long-standing streak ended when James failed to score double digits for the first time since 2007, snapping a run of 1296 straight games with at least 10 points.
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