The NBA announced the starters for next month’s All-Star Game on Monday, and for the first time in his legendary career, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James was not voted an All-Star starter.
James, who has been selected to a record 21 NBA All-Star Games and started every one since 2005, failed to receive enough votes to crack the Western Conference starting lineup. His absence marks a historic shift in the league’s annual midseason showcase.
Lakers teammate Luka Dončić led Western Conference voting and was named a starter alongside Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. In the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo topped the voting and was joined by Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, and Jaylen Brown.
James’ omission comes after a difficult start to the season. The 39-year-old missed the first 14 games with sciatica and struggled to regain rhythm upon his return. During that stretch, his historic streak of 1,297 consecutive games with at least 10 points ended in Toronto. As a result, his potential inclusion in the All-Star Game now rests with the NBA coaches, who will select the reserves.
While James was left out of the starting five, Curry earned his 12th All-Star selection and continues to average 27.6 points per game. Antetokounmpo also reached double-digit All-Star appearances while posting another dominant season with averages of 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, despite Milwaukee’s struggles in the standings.
Dončić returned to the All-Star stage after missing last year’s game and is having a standout season, averaging 33.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 8.6 assists. Jokić has continued his MVP-level play, while reigning MVP Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the NBA-best Thunder with 31.8 points per game. Wembanyama earned his first career All-Star start, averaging 24.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.6 blocks.
In the East, Cunningham and Maxey were both named first-time All-Star starters, with Brunson making his third straight appearance. Brown rounded out the starting lineup after posting career-best scoring numbers for Boston.
The NBA All-Star reserves will be announced Sunday, with selections made by league coaches. This year’s All-Star Game will feature a new “Team USA vs. Team World” format, adding another layer of intrigue to the event.
Despite LeBron James not being among the starters, the 2025 NBA All-Star Game remains loaded with star power — and James could still extend his historic streak if selected as a reserve.
