LeBron James has been snubbed as a starter for the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in his 22-year career, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious journey. The four-time NBA champion and record-breaking scorer will have to wait and see if he receives an All-Star reserve spot or gets called upon as an injury replacement.
The announcement of James' exclusion from the starting lineup came with the release of the NBA's 10-man starters, a group that features a stacked World team that is looking to take on two US teams in a new format for the midseason showcase. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama are just a few of the talent-laden players who will be suiting up for the World team.
Although James won't be taking the court as a starter, his 20-year streak of consecutive All-Star Game appearances remains intact. He was not among the first 10 starters chosen by coaches, but could still receive an All-Star reserve spot, or potentially get selected as an injury replacement if needed, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver having the final say.
The snub marks a rare absence from James' storied career, which has seen him dominate the league for nearly two decades. His record-breaking streak of consecutive games with at least 10 points recently ended in December, and he's since missed 17 games due to injury, leaving him with little room for error if he hopes to be considered for most postseason awards.
"I grew up watching All-Star games as a kid, dreaming about playing in them," Gilgeous-Alexander said of his own selection. "To be able to play in them will always have that same feeling... It's a blessing and an honor." For the rest of the league, it's clear that James' absence from the starting lineup is not only notable but also a reminder of his enduring legacy as one of the all-time greats.
The new format for the All-Star Game features a World team facing off against two US teams in a three-team, round-robin tournament. The top two teams will then advance to a 12-minute championship game, providing a unique twist on the traditional showcase. With James' absence from the starting lineup now a fact of life, fans and pundits alike are left wondering what the future holds for the King.
The announcement of James' exclusion from the starting lineup came with the release of the NBA's 10-man starters, a group that features a stacked World team that is looking to take on two US teams in a new format for the midseason showcase. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama are just a few of the talent-laden players who will be suiting up for the World team.
Although James won't be taking the court as a starter, his 20-year streak of consecutive All-Star Game appearances remains intact. He was not among the first 10 starters chosen by coaches, but could still receive an All-Star reserve spot, or potentially get selected as an injury replacement if needed, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver having the final say.
The snub marks a rare absence from James' storied career, which has seen him dominate the league for nearly two decades. His record-breaking streak of consecutive games with at least 10 points recently ended in December, and he's since missed 17 games due to injury, leaving him with little room for error if he hopes to be considered for most postseason awards.
"I grew up watching All-Star games as a kid, dreaming about playing in them," Gilgeous-Alexander said of his own selection. "To be able to play in them will always have that same feeling... It's a blessing and an honor." For the rest of the league, it's clear that James' absence from the starting lineup is not only notable but also a reminder of his enduring legacy as one of the all-time greats.
The new format for the All-Star Game features a World team facing off against two US teams in a three-team, round-robin tournament. The top two teams will then advance to a 12-minute championship game, providing a unique twist on the traditional showcase. With James' absence from the starting lineup now a fact of life, fans and pundits alike are left wondering what the future holds for the King.
, but at the same time I can see why coaches might've made that call. I mean, he's been playing like 17 games less than most guys due to injury 
, so it's not like he's had the chance to show off his skills as much as others. Still, it's a bit of a bummer for fans who love watching him dominate on court 
. On the bright side, he'll still get to play in the All-Star Game at all 
! And with that new format, we might see some crazy comebacks and upsets in the tournament 
. Guess only time will tell if he gets picked for the reserves or as an injury replacement 
Still gonna be an honor to play with the best of the best, I reckon. 
The new format for All-Star Game sounds pretty cool too - gotta love the twist on traditional games! 
And Giannis' words made me think, maybe LeBron's absence is just a sign that he's still working hard in the background, making sure he comes back stronger than ever? 
Only time will tell, I guess. 
. I mean, he's still one of the greatest players to ever step on the court, but I guess you can't just give him a spot in every single game anymore 
. The new format is actually kinda cool tho, it adds a new layer to the All-Star Game that we haven't seen before 
. But for James, it's like he's been robbed of his 23rd consecutive All-Star appearance 
. He'll still get to shine in other ways, but it's just not the same as being part of the starting lineup 
I feel like this snub is gonna be a big deal, you know? LeBron's been playing at an elite level for years and to not make it into that first 10-man lineup is weird. Don't get me wrong, there are some amazing young players in the league now, but come on, it's LeBron James we're talking about here 
. He's won four championships and broken all sorts of records. I think this snub is just gonna fuel the fire for his next game or two though - he'll be hungrier than ever 
still can't believe how many games he's missed due to injury, hope he gets back on track ASAP 
and you'd think he'd be in the starting lineup by now 
️ And I love how this new format is gonna shake things up - a three-team tournament, who knows what's gonna happen? 
who's gonna fill his spot tho? 
.
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That's wild, especially with all the young talent coming up. Like what happened to Giannis or Luka, they should've been starters by now. 
I know Adam Silver's got the final say, but come on, give the guy some love 
.
lebron's been snubbed as a starter for the first time in 22 years... can't believe it 