LeBron’s 21-Year All-Star Starting Streak Ends, and He Says He’s “Good Either Way”
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LOS ANGELES — For the first time since 2005, LeBron James will not open the NBA All-Star Game in the starting lineup. The Los Angeles Lakers forward, who had been voted a starter for 21 consecutive seasons, learned Thursday that his run will end at the 2026 showcase.
Speaking to reporters on Spectrum SportsNet, the 41-year-old said the news left him unfazed. “Nah. None at all,” James replied when asked if he had a reaction to the streak concluding.
James missed the opening weeks of the season with an injury and later eased into a reduced role alongside new teammate Luka Doncic. Those factors, along with the emergence of guard Austin Reaves, likely contributed to a decline in fan voting.
Coaches will choose the All-Star reserves next week, leaving James a chance to extend his overall appearance streak even without a starting nod. He expressed gratitude for either outcome. “I’m always grateful, for sure,” he said. “If I’m there, I’ll be there in attendance. If I’m not, I know I’ll be able to take full advantage of it. I’m good either way.”
Doncic, the league’s leading vote-getter, will represent the Lakers as a starter. Should James make the roster as a reserve, he would again share the court with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, a matchup he has repeatedly praised.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game tips off Feb. 15 in San Diego.
Source: Lakers Nation
