King James has taken his place on the NBA's All-Star throne.
About a year after Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James broke six-time MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time NBA scoring record, he also surpassed the former Lakers center for the most All-Star selections in league history. James, 39 and the oldest active player in the NBA, earned his 20th career All-Star nod last month and will serve as the Western Conference team captain on Sunday night in Indianapolis.
James' decorated career features a lengthy list of accomplishments, though this one isn't lost on the four-time NBA champion. Far from it.
"I give credit and a lot of respect to my fans who have been along with me through this whole 21-year journey," James told reporters in January when the 2024 All-Star starters were announced. "And voting me in as an All-Star starter for the 20th consecutive time, just very humbled. Very blessed to be able to do what I love to do and just try to give back, give back to the game that's given me over two decades."
James added: "I've exceeded anything that I ever dreamed about being in the NBA. And I did that a long time ago. Everything else is just kind of extra credit. I'm very humbled by still being able to play the game I love and have these accomplishments along the way."
As the NBA's star-studded weekend of festivities tips off, take a look at a breakdown of James' All-Star career—from the numbers he stuffs the stat sheet with to the records he holds.
LeBron James' All-Star Game Records
The only time James was not voted into the All-Star Game was as a 19-year-old rookie during the 2003-04 season—though he still earned Rookie of the Year honors and finished ninth in the NBA MVP race.
But since then? The 19-time All-NBA selection has put together an All-Star résumé without an adequate comparison.
Entering All-Star Weekend, James has already played in 19 consecutive All-Star games (one ahead of Abdul-Jabbar's 18 total for most all-time appearances) and started all of them (well ahead of Kobe Bryant's 15 starts). Sunday's contest marks the NBA's 73rd All-Star Game. That means, once James takes the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday night for his 20th start, he will have appeared in nearly 30 percent of the league's All-Star events.
Across an unprecedented 523 minutes played on the All-Star hardwood thus far while representing the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers, James also ranks first all-time in points scored (426, next closest is Bryant with 290), field goals (178), field goal attempts (345) and 3-point attempts (135), according to Sports Reference. Oh, and turnovers (58). The All-Star fixture averages 22.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in the games.
James' highest scoring output in the All-Star Game came in 2012, when he tallied 36 points. That is tied for the ninth-most points scored in a single NBA All-Star Game.
Who Has the Most NBA All-Star Game MVPs?
James enters All-Star Weekend with three All-Star MVPs—all won over his two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers—tied with Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal for the second-most all-time. At the top of the list is Bryant and Bob Pettit, both of whom took home the honor on four occasions. Bryant, after whom the All-Star Game MVP trophy is now named, earned the honor in 2002, 2007, 2009 (tie) and 2011.
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics was named All-Star Game MVP and earned the Kobe Bryant Trophy last year after dropping a record 55 points.
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Robert Read is a Sports Reporter at Newsweek based in Florida. He previously spent four years working at The Daily ... Read more
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