Jan 19 (Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not be in the opening lineup when the NBA All-Star Game tips off next month, ending a record 21-year run in which he was selected as a starter.
The NBA announced on Monday the 10 players voted as starters for the mid-season showcase, and James was notably absent from the starting lineup for the first time since his rookie campaign.
James sat out last year’s All-Star Game due to foot and ankle discomfort, which marked the first time he had been selected but did not play in the star-studded event.
Fans accounted for 50% of the vote to determine the 2026 starters, while current NBA players and a media panel each accounted for 25%.
James, a four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer, faced an uphill battle to be voted a starter after a disrupted start to the season in which he was sidelined for the first 14 games with sciatica.
The injury layoff proved costly, as James struggled to find his rhythm upon returning to action.
The 21-year streak represented one of the most remarkable runs of sustained excellence in the NBA, spanning James’s time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Lakers across multiple decades.
Despite the snub, James can still earn selection as a reserve. NBA coaches will determine the final seven players from each conference and their selections will be revealed on February 1.
The All-Star Game, which this year will mark the debut of the U.S. vs. World format, will take place on February 15 at the home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Five players from each conference were honored as starters, with Stephen Curry (Golden State), Luka Doncic (Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City), Nikola Jokic (Denver) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) selected from the Western Conference.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Jaylen Brown (Boston), Jalen Brunson (New York), Cade Cunningham (Detroit) and Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia) were selected from the Eastern Conference.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in TorontoEditing by Christian Radnedge)
