LeBron James ends historic 21-year streak after missing too many games this season

LeBron James’ latest lack for the Los Angeles Lakers ended a 21-year streak that mightiness not beryllium rivaled successful NBA history.

James has officially deed 18 missed games this season, arsenic helium sits retired Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs. As a result, James won’t beryllium capable to deed the 65-game minimum needed to beryllium considered for league awards, arsenic per the corporate bargaining agreement.

So, for the archetypal clip since 2004, James won’t beryllium connected the All-NBA teams.

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Los Angeles Lakers guardant LeBron James appears during the archetypal fractional of an NBA hoops crippled against the Utah Jazz, connected Feb. 10, 2025, successful Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

What didn’t assistance James’ lawsuit was missing the archetypal 14 games of the 2025-26 play owed to sciatica. Given James is 41 years old, determination was ever going to beryllium load absorption absences, particularly connected back-to-backs.

That is the lawsuit successful this Tuesday nighttime matchup, arsenic the Lakers are connected the 2nd nighttime of a back-to-back aft losing to the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder, 119-110, connected Monday nighttime successful Los Angeles.

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James’ wounded designation is presently near ft arthritis, and caput manager JJ Redick is besides dealing with Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart each ruled out, forcing him to get originative with his lineup successful this game.

Los Angeles Lakers guardant LeBron James dunks during the 2nd fractional successful Game 4 of an NBA hoops first-round playoff bid against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, April 27, 2024, successful Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

But successful the expansive strategy of NBA history, James’ streak of 21 years making an All-NBA squad consecutive is the explanation of unprecedented. He besides the all-time person successful first-team All-NBA selections with 13 — 2 up of Karl Malone and the precocious Kobe Bryant.

Bryant was a portion of the first-team All-NBA squad that James missed during his rookie play successful 2003-04. Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal and Jason Kidd filled retired the remainder of that group.

But aft his archetypal NBA season, wherever helium was named Rookie of the Year aft averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals implicit 79 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

From there, James made second-team All-NBA the adjacent play and didn’t halt landing connected 1 of the 3 teams until this season.

Los Angeles Lakers guardant LeBron James (23) looks connected during the 2nd fractional against the Oklahoma City Thunder astatine Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit:  (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

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It’s Year 23 for James, who is inactive averaging 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists per crippled crossed 35 contests for the Lakers, who are 32-20 this season, bully for 5th successful the Western Conference.

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