At this point in his career, every Los Angeles Lakers game LeBron James plays feels historic. Now in a record 23rd NBA season, the four-time champion has long defied Father Time, but this year has been a reminder that even he isn’t immune.
James missed Tuesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, his 18th absence of the season, officially making him ineligible for end-of-season NBA awards. The setback ends his extraordinary 21-year All-NBA streak, closing the chapter on one of the most sustained runs of dominance in league history for the 41-year-old superstar.
Gilbert Arenas Highlights the Significance of LeBron James’ 21-Year Run of Dominance
James has often spoken about the dusk of his career, but after missing Tuesday’s game, he no longer qualifies for postseason awards under the NBA’s 65-game rule, introduced in recent years to curb load management among star players.
Load management played a key role in James’ ineligibility, as the Lakers have avoided using him in back-to-back games. The result is the end of the longest All-NBA streak in league history, further underscoring just how dominant his run has been. Three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas emphasized that point on “The Gilbert Arenas Show”.
“I had 3 straight and that was amazing,” Arenas said. “Yea was 3 good ones too. 21, just shows the discipline of a player mind set. All the players on that list. You’re talking about look who they are, look what the list is.”
James’ streak isn’t just the longest ever; it stands comfortably ahead of the competition. Kobe Bryant ranks next with 15 consecutive All-NBA selections, illustrating the massive gap between James and the rest. No player in NBA history has even approached the 20-year mark, and with today’s load management trends, it may become even more difficult.
“You’re taking about arguably greatest players to ever play this game,” Arenas added. “They have a mind set when they are going in that they are competing against this. They’re competing against the legends of the NBA. People they’re playing against right now is irrelevant to them.”
If not for the load management, James likely would have extended the streak. Through 35 games this season, he is averaging 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while shooting 50.2% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range.
Despite missing out on All-NBA honors, James once again underscored his longevity by earning his 22nd All-Star selection, extending yet another NBA record. The next closest player, Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, finished with 19, further highlighting the remarkable gap James has created between himself and even the game’s all-time greats.
