NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and for Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, it marks a record-breaking 23rd appearance.
He's experienced it all, but with players arriving in Los Angeles on Saturday for the media portion of the weekend, James will not be among them. Similar to previous seasons, he has chosen to hold his own press conference on Sunday before the All-Star Game, the NBA announced.
This marks the fourth consecutive year James has taken this approach. Each time, it has sparked intense backlash from NBA fans, who argue that as the face of the league, James should participate in the weekend's events - especially at a time when fan interest in the All-Star Weekend is at a low point.
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"Makes everything about him. Can't wait 'til he's gone," one fan said.
Another added, "Man, who does this guy think he is? The more he puts himself above the game, the less I want to include him in the GOAT discussion."
A different fan wrote, "In all seriousness, what is this guy going to do when he retires for attention? I've never seen someone so needy for attention and so sensitive about the narratives surrounding them."
"It’s not a good look for the league's image when your biggest star opts out of the main media day, but let's be real - he's a 22× All-Star. If anyone's earned special treatment, it's him. Still kinda lame for the casual fans, though," another fan commented.
James earned a spot in this year's All-Star Game as a reserve, averaging 22.0 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds across 36 games this season.
He has already been deemed ineligible for any end-of-season awards after missing more than the allowed number of games - 17 of 82 - a rule implemented by NBA commissioner Adam Silver starting with the 2023–24 season.
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