LeBron James’ All-NBA Streak Ends, but His Impact Remains Undeniable
For the first time in his legendary 21-year career, LeBron James won’t be featured on an All-NBA team. That streak came to an end when the Lakers ruled him out against the San Antonio Spurs - his 18th missed game of the season - making him ineligible under the league’s new 65-game minimum for award consideration.
Let that sink in: 21 straight seasons of All-NBA recognition. That’s not just consistency - that’s dominance, longevity, and a level of sustained excellence that’s almost unfathomable in today’s NBA. But with the league’s new availability rules in effect, even a player of LeBron’s caliber isn’t immune.
The 65-game threshold was introduced to encourage stars to suit up more often, but it’s had mixed results. Injuries - not load management - have largely been the reason for absences this season.
That’s certainly the case for LeBron. He missed the first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign due to a sciatic nerve issue and was eased back into action with rest on back-to-backs.
Still, he managed to string together 17 straight appearances before sitting out against San Antonio - the second night of a back-to-back after a hard-fought loss to the Thunder.
Year 23, and he’s still logging heavy minutes, still producing at an elite level. That in itself is remarkable.
If not for the 65-game rule, LeBron would absolutely be in the All-NBA conversation. Even at 41, he continues to be one of the most productive and impactful players in the league. The numbers back it up, and so does the eye test - he’s still the engine that keeps the Lakers running.
While the All-NBA streak may be over, another streak lives on. LeBron was named to his 22nd consecutive All-Star Game, an achievement that further cements his place in the sport’s history books. This year’s format features two U.S. squads - LeBron will suit up for Team USA Stripes - and a World team made up of international stars, including his Lakers teammate Luka Doncic.
But individual accolades aren’t the focus right now - not for LeBron, and not for the Lakers. The priority is getting right for the stretch run after the All-Star break. This team still has a lot to prove, and if they want to make any real noise in the postseason, they’ll need LeBron operating at full throttle.
After Monday’s loss to the Thunder, James didn’t sugarcoat the situation. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined, the Lakers had a real shot to steal one in Oklahoma City.
They were missing Doncic themselves, but the opportunity was there late in the game. The Thunder, though, closed the door - and LeBron gave them their due afterward.
He called Oklahoma City a championship team. The Lakers? “Not one right now,” he admitted.
That kind of honesty cuts deep, but it also shows where the bar is. LeBron knows what it takes to win a title - he’s done it four times. And he knows this Lakers squad isn’t there yet.
But with LeBron still playing at this level, they’ve got a shot - and that’s more than most teams can say.