LeBron James to Miss Spurs Game, Historic Streak Snapped
The Los Angeles Lakers will be without LeBron James tonight as they face the San Antonio Spurs. The team has officially ruled James out for the second night of a back-to-back, citing left foot arthritis. This absence has significant implications, not just for tonight’s Spurs game, but for James’s overall career accolades.
Alongside James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart have also been ruled out for their respective teams. However, the focus remains on James, as this marks his 18th missed game of the season. This unfortunate milestone officially disqualifies him from being awards-eligible under the current collective bargaining agreement, requiring 65 appearances.
The End of an Era: 21-Year All-NBA Streak Concludes
This means, for the first time since 2004, LeBron James will not be named to an All-NBA team. The streak began after his rookie season, and its end represents a truly remarkable chapter closing in NBA history. James initially missed 14 games due to sciatica, making reaching the 65-game threshold a long shot for the 39-year-old superstar.
He has been increasingly strategic about participating in both legs of back-to-back games, openly acknowledging the physical toll it takes on his aging body. This decision, while understandable, ultimately led to the end of his unprecedented run.
A Legacy of All-NBA Selections
To put James’s achievement into perspective, consider this: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are tied for second all-time in All-NBA selections with 15 each. James boasts a staggering 13 first-team selections alone, surpassing Bryant and Karl Malone by two. His consistency and dominance over two decades are unparalleled.
Let’s take a look back at the 2003-04 All-NBA teams, the only other time James didn’t make the cut, though he did win Rookie of the Year:
- F – Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
- F – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- C – Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
- G – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
- G – Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
- F – Peja Stojaković, Sacramento Kings
- F – Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers
- C – Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
- G – Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic
- G – Sam Cassell, Minnesota Timberwolves
- F – Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
- F – Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
- C – Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
- G – Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks
- G – Baron Davis, New Orleans Hornets
More Than Just All-NBA
This isn’t the only historic streak James has seen come to an end this season. He also recently broke a 19-year, 1,297-game streak of scoring at least 10 points and missed out on All-Star starting honors, ending a 21-year run in the star-studded starting five. Despite these setbacks, his longevity – playing a 23rd season – remains unmatched in NBA history.
These milestones fuel the ongoing debate about James’s place among the NBA greats. It’s difficult to compare any athlete across sports who has maintained such a high level of performance for over two decades, from ages 19 to 41. The Spurs game, while important, is just one piece of a much larger, legendary career.
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