Minnesota Timberwolves icon Kevin Garnett has urged the Los Angeles Lakers fanbase, and NBA fans in general, not to waste an All-Star vote on LeBron James.
The 40-year-old James can add to his record run of 21 consecutive All-Star selections this year, a streak that began in his second season in 2004-05. The streak technically ended last year as he sat out the exhibition contest with a last-minute ankle injury. However, the appearance still counted in the NBA Almanac by virtue of his selection.
Garnett believes that James will likely pull a fast one and sit out the game again, even if fans vote him into the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
“LeBron does not want to play in the All-Star Game,” Garnett said on the latest “KG Certified” podcast.
“Listen, all you people out there that are going to vote for LeBron: ‘save your vote.’ He didn’t play in it last year. Why would you expect him to play it this year?”
LeBron James’ All-Star Chances
Paul Pierce, Garnett’s podcast co-host, argued that James would not get selected as an All-Star due to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves likely earning nods for the Lakers.
“He’s not going to make it. You can’t get three from the Lakers,” said the 2008 NBA Finals MVP.
Garnett disagreed with his former Boston Celtics teammate, arguing that James, Doncic and Reaves were all shoo-ins due to the All-Star Game being held in Los Angeles.
“That’s how you know they’re going to get three in,” Garnett said of Lakers fans voting for the All-Star Game. “How can’t you give them three in? It’s in LA. The Clippers aren’t getting anybody in.”
All-NBA Streak Likely to End
Per the NBA’s revised rules, starters for the All-Star Game are chosen by a combination of fans (50%), active players (25%) and media (25%), while the reserves are selected by the 30 head coaches. As such, if fans don’t vote James in as a starter, his chances of making the game could suffer, since coaches are unlikely to reward him over other forwards in the league — who’ve been more available and productive thus far.
It is likely, though, that fans will vote for James for sentimental reasons, given that the 40-year-old could retire by next year. They similarly voted Kobe Bryant into the All-Star Game when the late Lakers legend was a shell of his former self in his final few seasons.
While James’ chances of making the All-Star team are still alive, it’s almost a lock that he will not make an All-NBA Team this season, which will end another 21-year streak that started in 2004-05. For one, James has already missed 16 of the Lakers’ 27 games, and can afford to miss only one more game to sustain eligibility for All-NBA honors.
And even if the 40-year-old miraculously plays 54 of the remaining 55 games this season, his numbers may not be good enough to be regarded as a top-15 player. James is averaging career-lows in points (20.2), rebounds (5.5), field goals made (7.5), 3P% (.283) and steals (0.9) while shooting his lowest FG% since the 2006-07 season.
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