LeBron James misses out as NBA All-Star starter for first time in 22 years

The NBA has announced a new format for the 2025 All-Star Game, featuring a mini-tournament where a World team will compete against two U.S. teams. The event will take place on February 15 at the Los Angeles Clippers' arena in Inglewood, California. The format involves a three-team, round-robin tournament of 12-minute mini-games, with the top two teams advancing to a 12-minute championship game.

The league revealed 10 All-Star starters, selected through a weighted formula incorporating fan votes (50%), media votes (25%), and player votes (25%). Presumed starters for the World team include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama. Presumed starters for the U.S. squads include Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown.

Notably, LeBron James was not selected as a starter, ending his record streak of 20 consecutive All-Star Game appearances. However, he could still be named as one of 14 reserves chosen by NBA head coaches or could receive an invitation as an injury replacement selected by Commissioner Adam Silver. James is in his 23rd NBA season and has missed 17 games this year, impacting his eligibility for certain postseason awards.

The "U.S. vs. The World" concept, discussed for years, has been implemented this season by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association in an effort to renew interest in the All-Star Game. Players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander expressed that being selected remains a significant honor, reflecting childhood dreams of participating in the event.