The seemingly unbreakable streak has ended. For the first time in 21 seasons, LeBron James will not be named to an All-NBA team, a run of consistent excellence that spanned over two decades. The news comes as James is sidelined with left foot arthritis, marking his 18th missed game of the 2025-26 season and officially disqualifying him from consideration due to the NBA’s 65-game minimum requirement for awards eligibility.
The announcement, confirmed on , brings to a close a remarkable chapter in NBA history. James, now 41 years old, debuted in the league in 2003 and quickly ascended to All-NBA status, earning a spot on one of the three All-NBA teams every year since his second season. His longevity at such a high level is what truly sets his achievement apart.
The Lakers star’s absence from the court, stemming from the foot arthritis, proved to be the deciding factor. While his season averages of 21.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game remain respectable, the missed games ultimately rendered him ineligible. He initially missed the first 14 games of the season due to sciatica, making reaching the 65-game threshold a significant challenge from the outset.
“It was pretty much an inevitability with him skipping legs of back-to-backs, and he was open about how difficult it was to play both legs at his age,” sources close to the situation noted.
The impact of this ending is difficult to overstate. Kobe Bryant holds the second-longest streak of All-NBA selections with 15 consecutive years, a testament to James’ dominance. No other player has even approached the 20-year mark, and the combination of early success and sustained performance deep into his career makes James’ record appear particularly secure.
The Lakers are also navigating a challenging stretch without several key players. Alongside James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart were all ruled out for ’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, forcing coach JJ Redick to adjust his lineup significantly. The team lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-110 on night, adding to the pressure.
The current collective bargaining agreement, implemented prior to the 2023-24 season, introduced the 65-game minimum requirement for awards eligibility, a move intended to incentivize player participation. While some debate the fairness of such a rule, particularly for veterans managing injuries, the league has stood firm in its application.
Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the rule, suggesting that while a games-played threshold is a reasonable guideline for voters, it shouldn’t be an absolute barrier. “I think it’s fine to have some sort of guidance for voters,” Redick said. “I know the first year that I voted, there were a bunch of guys that were in like that 54-to-56-game range.”
The end of the streak doesn’t diminish James’ overall accomplishments. He remains the all-time leader in first-team All-NBA selections with 13, two ahead of Bryant and Karl Malone. His impact on the game extends far beyond individual accolades, and he continues to be a force on the court even as he enters the twilight of his career.
Looking back to the 2003-04 season, the only year James didn’t make an All-NBA team, the landscape of the league was vastly different. That year’s first team included Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jason Kidd – a group of legends in their own right. James, a rookie averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals, earned Rookie of the Year honors but hadn’t yet established the consistent All-NBA level of play that would define the next two decades.
Despite the disappointment of ending the streak, James’ continued presence in the league at a high level is a testament to his dedication and physical conditioning. The Lakers, currently fifth in the Western Conference with a 32-20 record, will need him healthy and engaged if they hope to make a deep playoff run. The focus now shifts to managing his health and preparing for the postseason, even as one of the most remarkable streaks in NBA history comes to a close.
