LeBron James Extends All-Star Record With 22nd Straight Selection

The NBA’s annual All-Star announcement delivered a familiar headline and several new names. LeBron James was selected as an All-Star for the 22nd consecutive season, extending a record streak that underscores his longevity in the league, while six players earned the first All-Star recognition of their careers.

James was named Sunday among 14 reserves for the Feb. 15 All-Star showcase at the Los Angeles Clippers’ arena in Inglewood, California. Though he was not voted in as a starter this year, the Los Angeles Lakers forward remains the most decorated All-Star in league history, holding records for consecutive selections and total points scored in All-Star games.

This year’s roster composition also highlights the NBA’s generational shift. Alongside established stars, emerging players from Detroit, Miami, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Portland and Denver will make their All-Star debuts in a format designed to emphasize international representation and competitive balance.

Eastern Conference reserves

The Eastern Conference reserve selections include Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Indiana’s Pascal Siakam, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, Detroit’s Jalen Duren, Miami’s Norman Powell and Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson.

Duren, Powell and Johnson will be appearing in the All-Star Game for the first time.

Western Conference reserves

Joining James from the Western Conference are Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Denver’s Jamal Murray, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, Houston’s Kevin Durant, Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Portland’s Deni Avdija.

Murray, Holmgren and Avdija are also first-time selections.

A tournament-style All-Star format

This season’s All-Star Game will depart from the traditional East-versus-West structure. Instead, the league will use a three-team tournament format under the theme “U.S. vs. The World.” Each team will consist of at least eight players and compete in 12-minute games in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to a final championship game.

The structure means more players will “start” games, making the traditional starter-reserve designation largely symbolic. By league rules, 10 players are formally named starters and the remaining selections listed as reserves, though the tournament format allows broader participation from the outset.

Previously announced starters

The starters announced earlier include:

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Jaylen Brown (Boston), Cade Cunningham (Detroit), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia), Jalen Brunson (New York), Stephen Curry (Golden State), Luka Doncic (Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City), Nikola Jokic (Denver) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio).

Antetokounmpo is expected to miss several weeks with a calf injury, raising the possibility that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will appoint a replacement if he withdraws.

Under the tournament format, players such as Brown, Cunningham, Maxey, Brunson and Curry would likely represent U.S.-based teams, while Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Wembanyama are positioned for the World team.

Coaching assignments

Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff will coach one of the All-Star teams after the Pistons rose to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Either San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson or Denver’s David Adelman will coach another team, determined by Sunday’s results and Western Conference standings among eligible coaches.

Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault, despite leading the West, is ineligible to coach because he served in the role at last season’s All-Star Game. The NBA has not yet disclosed how the third team’s coach will be selected.

LeBron’s sustained presence

James’ selection continues a run unmatched in the league’s history. He has appeared in 20 All-Star games and scored 434 points across those appearances. He did not participate in last year’s game due to injury, but his selection streak remains intact.

At 22 consecutive selections, James’ All-Star presence spans multiple eras of the NBA, bridging the careers of veterans and first-time selections now sharing the same stage.