LeBron James Left Off All-Star Starting Lineup

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The NBA unveiled its All-Star Game starters on Monday, and the announcement delivered a historic twist: Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was not among the opening five. It marked the first time since his sophomore season that James failed to earn a starting nod, snapping a remarkable streak that dated back to the 2005 All-Star Game.

James, who has been selected to a record 21 All-Star Games and started in every one of them, was never a serious factor in this year’s Western Conference voting. 

His season began with a setback, as he missed the first 14 games due to sciatica, and his return was uneven. During that stretch, his long-running streak of scoring at least 10 points in 1,297 consecutive games came to an end last month in Toronto, a symbolic moment in an otherwise unprecedented career.

While James awaits word on whether coaches will select him as a reserve, his Lakers teammate Luka Doncic topped the Western Conference voting. 

Doncic, averaging 33.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 8.6 assists, headlines a West starting group that also includes Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, and Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry.

Curry earned his 12th All-Star selection while continuing to score at an elite level as he approaches his 38th birthday. Jokic once again put up near triple-double averages before a recent knee injury, while Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, has powered the Thunder to the league’s best record. 

Wembanyama, meanwhile, secured his first All-Star start in just his second season, anchoring the Spurs with dominant two-way production.

In the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led all vote-getters and was joined by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, and Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown. 

Cunningham earned his first start as the face of a Pistons team enjoying a dramatic rise to the top of the East, while Maxey and Brunson continued their ascents as elite scoring guards.

Starters were determined by a weighted voting system consisting of fans (50 percent), media members (25 percent), and players (25 percent). The league will announce the All-Star reserves on Sunday, with selections made by NBA coaches.

This year’s All-Star Game will feature a revamped “Team USA vs. the World” format, with rosters adjusted to ensure a minimum number of American and international players, setting the stage for a global showcase in February.