LeBron James ends 21-year All-NBA streak after missing 18 games
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LeBron James’ latest absence from the Los Angeles Lakers ended a 21-year winning streak unmatched in NBA history.
James officially missed 18 games this season after starting Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs. As a result, James will not reach the minimum 65 games required for league honors under the collective bargaining agreement.
This means that for the first time since 2004, James will not be on the All-NBA teams.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James appears during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
What didn’t help James’ situation was that he missed the first 14 games of the 2025-26 season due to sciatica. Considering James is 41 years old, there was always going to be a lack of load management, especially in back-to-back games.
That’s the case in this Tuesday night matchup, with the Lakers on their second straight night after losing 119-110 to the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder in Los Angeles on Monday night.
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James’ injury description currently appears to be left foot arthritis, and head coach JJ Redick is also concerned with Luka Dončić being ruled out by Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart, forcing him to get creative with his lineup for this game.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks in the second half during Game 4 of the NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
But in the grand scheme of NBA history, James’ 21-year hitting streak to make the All-NBA team is the definition of unprecedented. He is also the all-time leader in All-NBA first-team selections with 13 points; He is two ahead of Karl Malone and the late Kobe Bryant.
Bryant was part of the All-NBA first-team squad that James missed during his rookie season in 2003-04. Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal and Jason Kidd filled out the rest of the group.
However, after his first NBA season, he was named Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 79 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
From there, James was named to the All-NBA second team the following season and remained on one of the three teams until this season.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) watches the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
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James, who averaged 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game in 35 matches for the Lakers, who are 32-20 this season, ranks fifth in the Western Conference in his 23rd year.
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