Now in his 23rd season, LeBron James remains one of the NBA’s most prominent stars. Though his streak as an All-Star starter came to an end this season, he will still be part of one of the league’s biggest weekends of the year.
LeBron James Weighs In on Being Named to 22nd All-Star Game
Injury led to a delayed debut for the superstar forward, but since returning, he has continued to serve as a primary pillar for the LA Lakers. Through his first 30 games, LeBron is averaging 21.9 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, and 6.6 assists per game.
Those numbers are lower than what fans are accustomed to seeing from the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, but they were still enough for him to add another accolade to his already historic resumé.
Following the fan-voting stage of All-Star festivities, it was revealed that James’s streak of being an All-Star Game starter had ended at 21. Given that he missed time and saw a dip in production, many began to speculate whether he would be selected at all in 2026.
On Sunday evening, the league announced the reserves for this year’s All-Star Game. To the dismay of some, James was selected out of the Western Conference alongside Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, and Deni Avdija.
As the reserves were being announced, James and the Lakers were preparing for a nationally televised showdown against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. When asked about being named an All-Star for a 22nd time, the star forward expressed gratitude for the honor.
“Twenty-two straight, I think. I didn’t make it my rookie year,” LeBron said pregame. “Twenty-two straight. Nah, it ain’t bad. Blessed, honored, truly.”
“Blessed. Honored.”@KingJames on being named an All-Star for the 22nd straight season ???? https://t.co/eyWy8YBhrQ pic.twitter.com/bmZdwc1UWZ
— NBA (@NBA) February 1, 2026
With this selection, James adds to his record for the most All-Star appearances by a single player. He remains the only player with 20-plus selections, with fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ranking second all-time with 19.
While gearing up for another All-Star weekend, James will also look to keep the Lakers in contention in a highly competitive Western Conference. LA currently sits in sixth place with a 29-18 record.
With James locked in for the All-Star Game, the Lakers will have two representatives, as Luka Doncic was named a Western Conference starter in his full first season with the team.
The NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 15 and will take place at Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers.