Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been named an NBA All-Star for the 22nd consecutive season, extending his league record. He was named to the Western Conference reserves pool on Sunday night, making it the first time in his 22 years as an All-Star that he isn’t a starter.
James missed the first 14 games of the season for the Lakers due to a sciatica issue in his back, and got off to a bit of a slow start once he did make his season debut on Nov. 18. He even lost his decades-long double-digit scoring streak on Dec. 4 against the Toronto Raptors.
However, he has looked every bit like his usual self since that game. James is averaging 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game on 52.0% from the field and 34.5% from three in his last 24 games. He is doing this at 41 years of age and in an NBA-record 23rd season.
There was serious doubt over whether or not LeBron would be named an All-Star at all this season, breaking a 21-year streak. He did not have the requisite votes to make it in as a starter, and with how crowded the Western Conference is, there were definitely more than seven players deserving of a spot.
The Eastern Conference likely would have had James make it with ease. They did not have the same depth of star players, especially with players like Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton out for the season.
And it’s arguable that had Lakers guard Austin Reaves not gotten injured, he very well would have made the All-Star team, potentially even instead of LeBron. Regardless, the Lakers now have two representatives at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The game this year is a USA vs. World tournament, with the 24 players in the pool being split into three teams of 8. The event will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15 on NBC and Peacock.
Full list of NBA All-Star reserves
The starters for the All-Star Game are Cade Cunningham, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey in the East, and Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry and Victor Wembanyama in the West.
Eastern Conference
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Norman Powell, Miami Heat
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Western Conference
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
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