LeBron James’ participation as a starter in the NBA All-Star Game is no more after 21 seasons in a row, the Los Angeles Lakers player is being excluded from the starting five for the next month’s event.
The 41-year-old, who had been picked as an All-Star starter uninterruptedly from 2005 until now, was the most notable exclusion out of the 10 players chosen for the February 15 festival at the Intuit Dome of the Los Angeles Clippers. However, James’ name is sure to be included among the reserves by the coaches, but still, his absence from the starting lineup signifies the closure of an astonishing era.
Starters from each conference were picked by the votes of fans, media, and the players. The Western Conference starting five are Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama. In the East, the starters are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown.
James was not picked this season as a result of a sciatica injury that sidelined him through the first 14 games. Since his return, he is putting up 22.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game on average.
The format of the upcoming All-Star Game will also witness a new system of play, where a three-team round-robin tournament will be conducted to intensify competition and to attract more fans.
