Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James added to his basketball legacy with a record 22nd NBA All-Star selection on Sunday, and that’s 22 consecutive, an awe-inspiring feat.
He first made the All-Star team in 2005 and has continued to appear on the team ever since then. However, this year’s selection came out of respect for the coaches in the Western Conference who have regard for one of the league’s all-time greatest players.
The big announcement arrived as the Lakers were visiting New York City’s Madison Square Garden to play the Knicks, as part of NBC’s doubleheader. This season, LeBron was among the All-Star reserves, with his superstar teammate, Luka Doncic, named a starter last month.
Reactions have been coming in on social media and television, with fans and commentators discussing who made the team and who did not. Following his team’s game against the Knicks, LeBron was asked what it meant to him to make the All-Star team for a 22nd straight time.
"Obviously, it's super humbling-mad respect to the coaches for them seeing how I'm still playing at this stage of my career," he told reporters in postgame remarks.
"It means a lot to my family and people who have been following my career, my LeBron faithful that’s been following my journey," LeBron said, adding, "It's always rewarding just from a humble standpoint to be able to be rewarded for what you put your work into, so it's pretty cool.”
The news of his selection as a reserve came ahead of his team losing a disappointing road matchup to the Knicks, 112-100. That was despite a combined 52 points from All-Stars LeBron and Luka, and the Lakers leading as they went into halftime.
New York overcame the small deficit and outscored the Lakers, 60-44, in the second half. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 25 points, followed by Landry Shamet off the bench with 23, in an off-night for both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
"We're 29-19 right now. We've had some really good moments. We have had some not-so-good moments. We want to try to continue to build off that," LeBron said, adding, "We want to continue to get better."
He mentioned not having All-Star teammate Austin Reaves in the lineup and playing in a difficult Western Conference. Along with that, LeBron indicated that, despite his strange start to the season after missing the first 14 games, he wasn’t necessarily thinking about making the All-Star Game; instead, he focused on getting back to playing basketball “at a high level.”
Following their loss to New York, the Lakers (29-19) are still first in the Pacific Division and are sixth overall in the Western Conference, with the Phoenix Suns right on their heels.
LeBron and the Lakers have a chance to bounce back from Sunday night’s loss when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
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