Western Conference Check-In: LeBron’s All-Star Streak in Jeopardy, Maxey Ascends, and the Suns Await a Spark
Lakers: LeBron’s All-Star Streak on the Brink
For the first time in over 20 years, LeBron James isn’t penciled in as an All-Star starter-and that’s not just a trivia nugget. It’s a sign of how much the Western Conference has evolved and how this season has tested even the game’s most enduring superstar.
LeBron’s absence to start the year-14 games missed due to sciatica-meant no training camp, no preseason rhythm, and a need to work himself into game shape on the fly. That’s a tall order in a conference loaded with younger, faster, and more available stars who’ve been logging minutes night in and night out. And in a league where availability is rapidly becoming as valuable as ability, that matters.
Still, the numbers are unmistakably LeBron. He’s averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.9 rebounds while shooting just over 50% from the field.
That’s production most players would dream of-and yet, it may not be enough. James has already missed 17 of the Lakers’ first 41 games, and in a West that’s deeper than ever, that’s a tough hill to climb when All-Star votes are on the line.
Now, the decision shifts to the coaches. If LeBron is selected as a reserve, his record-setting All-Star streak continues-21 consecutive appearances dating back to 2005.
If not, one of the league’s most iconic runs quietly comes to a close. Either way, just the fact that we’re even having this conversation speaks volumes about how relentless the Western Conference has become.
76ers: Tyrese Maxey’s Star Turn
Tyrese Maxey isn’t just having a breakout season-he’s announcing himself as one of the league’s brightest young stars. The Sixers guard earned his first All-Star starting nod, and it’s no fluke.
Maxey is in the middle of a career year, averaging 30.3 points, 6.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and nearly two steals per game. He’s also leading the league in minutes, showing just how central he’s become to everything Philadelphia does.
But Maxey’s not satisfied. Speaking on Monday, he made it clear he’s got his eyes on a bigger stage.
“I would love to play for Team USA,” Maxey said. “If that opportunity comes, I’ll be there.”
At this point, that doesn’t feel like a reach. Maxey has gone from promising young guard to franchise cornerstone in a matter of months.
And the Sixers’ resurgence isn’t a coincidence-it’s tracking directly with his rise. His energy, playmaking, and scoring touch have become the heartbeat of a team that’s reasserting itself in the East.
Suns: Jalen Green Nearing Return
In Phoenix, the Suns are finally getting some much-needed reinforcements.
Jalen Green is expected to return Tuesday in Philadelphia after missing most of the season with a right hamstring strain. Suns coach Jordan Ott made it clear the decision to hold Green out on Monday was purely precautionary.
“Just giving him the extra day,” Ott said. “No setbacks.”
Green’s season has been defined by stops and starts. He injured the hamstring during training camp, tried to ramp up, and then aggravated it again.
He’s played just two games all year. But when he finally made his debut in November, he dropped 29 points in just 23 minutes-a reminder of what he can bring when healthy.
Unfortunately, the next game saw him exit after just seven minutes with the same issue.
The Suns have emphasized patience over panic, insisting the extended absence was about managing the injury properly-not dealing with a recurrence. Now, Green is set to rejoin the starting lineup immediately, and that’s a big development for a team that’s managed to hang around without one of its key offensive weapons.
If Green can stay on the floor and recapture the explosiveness he showed in that brief November stint, Phoenix might be getting a second-half jolt at just the right time.
From LeBron’s All-Star streak hanging in the balance, to Maxey’s meteoric rise, to the Suns’ cautious optimism with Green’s return, the NBA’s midseason storylines are heating up. The Western Conference continues to be a gauntlet, and the stars-both established and emerging-are feeling the pressure.