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The NBA will take over the West Coast in February. The league is set to host its annual All-Star Weekend at the newly built Intuit Dome in Inglewood. However, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will have a significantly reduced role at this year’s event.
LeBron James Not Voted An All-Star Game Starter
The starters for the All-Star game from each conference were announced on Monday (January 19).
Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama were named the starters for the Western Conference.
Jalen Brunson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, and Jaylen Brown were the leading vote-getters in the Eastern Conference.
2026 West NBA All-Star starters:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 19, 2026
Luka Doncic
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Stephen Curry
Nikola Jokic
Victor Wembanyama
Several players could make a case that they were snubbed. But the most obvious omission was LeBron. For the first time in 21 seasons, he will not be a starter in the All-Star Game. One of the biggest shockers of the NBA season.
James has only played in 24 games this year. But he has faired well in the games he has played, averaging 22.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per contest.
But the reality is that James is not getting any younger as he has officially entered his 40s. And with 2025 marking his 23rd season in the league, many fans can sense that the end is drawing near.
However, according to ESPN NBA insider Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers star remains undecided about his NBA future as he is unsure if he will hang up his jersey this season.
“At the same time, if James believes this could be his last season — something that sources close to James have insisted that he remains undecided about — he might feel even more responsibility to suit up for every game on what would then be a retirement tour,” McMenamin wrote in a recent report.
James still has the chance to play in the All-Star game. He will likely be voted in as a reserve player.
