LeBron James Makes History With Another All-Star Game
The All-Star Game reserves were announced on Sunday, and in somewhat surprising fashion, LeBron James was named to the team. James has been very good again in 2025-26. There might've been a few more deserving names in the West. Nevertheless, James made more history with this ASG nod.
LeBron James sets record with another All-Star Game appearance
LeBron James has been in the league for 23 seasons. In 22 of them, he made the All-Star Game, which includes this season. The only time he didn't make it was in his rookie season, when he still finished top 10 in MVP voting and won Rookie of the Year. He arguably should've made it, but regardless, he still owns the record.
It is the record for overall selections, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant have 19 and 18 appearances, respectively. Since no one has more than James, his record also stands as the most consecutive appearances. Neither record is likely to fall ever.
"Super humbling," James said Sunday night when he was voted in as a reserve. "The coaches voted, right, so mad respect to the coaches and them seeing the way I'm still playing at this latter stage of my career."
Many view Kawhi Leonard as a snub that should've replaced James. Still, the future Hall of Famer added, "And to be able to be an All-Star means a lot to my family, people that have been following my career, my LeBron faithful. They've been following my journey and it's always rewarding just from a humbling standpoint to be able to be rewarded for what you put your work into."
James has taken a tiny step back in 2025-26 as Father Time inches closer to him. He still made it. He was the last player announced, though, and might be one of the least deserving of the All-Stars. Still, James said he's not at all worried about his streak or racking up accolades like that.
"I didn't really think about it. To be honest, it wasn't a goal of mine to come into the season, miss the first 14 games and say, 'OK, I need to be an All-Star.' I just wanted to get back to playing the game at a high level I knew I was capable of, once I kind of worked the rust off [from] missing preseason, training camp, my summer workouts -- which I've never done in my whole career," he admitted.
JJ Redick, Luka Doncic chime in
JJ Redick, the Lakers coach whose entire career lasted 15 seasons, seven fewer than LeBron James ASG nods, has a unique perspective of the player's impressive longevity. He was a player alongside James, though he did not make any All-Star Games, and is now James' coach.
"You think about a star player, their prime is their All-NBA, All-Star years," Redick said. "And you know, he's basically had a 20-plus-year prime. It's kind of unheard of. It is unheard of, uncharted, whatever you want to call it. I mean, it's incredible. It's a testament to the work that he puts in."
Luka Doncic, who was named a starter for the East amid another excellent year, didn't want to hear anything about someone being snubbed in favor of James. He said his teammate is "still playing at a top level" at 41, which absolutely "deserves" to make the All-Star Game.
James now joins Abdul-Jabbar in the record books. Both players were 41 when named to the All-Star Game. That made each of them the oldest players in the NBA to do so. Should James play and make another All-Star Game next year (both seem a little unlikely at this point), he would break Abdul-Jabbar's record.
