LOS ANGELES -- The NBA unveiled its All-Star Game starters on Monday, and the announcement delivered a historic twist: Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was not among the opening five. It marked the first time since his sophomore season that James failed to earn a starting nod, snapping a remarkable streak that dated back to the 2005 All-Star Game.
James, who has been selected to a record 21 All-Star Games and started in every one of them, was never a serious factor in this year's Western Conference voting.
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His season began with a setback, as he missed the first 14 games due to sciatica, and his return was uneven. During that stretch, his long-running streak of scoring at least 10 points in 1,297 consecutive games came to an end last month in Toronto, a symbolic moment in an otherwise unprecedented career.
While James awaits word on whether coaches will select him as a reserve, his Lakers teammate Luka Doncic topped the Western Confer ence voting.
Doncic, averaging 33.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 8.6 assists, headlines a West starting group that also includes Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, and Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry.
Curry earned his 12th All-Star selection while continuing to score at an elite level as he approaches his 38th birthday. Jokic once again put up near triple-double averages before a recent knee injury, while Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, has powered the Thunder to the league's best record.
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Wembanyama, meanwhile, secured his first All-Star start in just his second season, anchoring the Spurs with dominant two-way production.
In the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led all vote-getters and was joined by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, Detroit Piston s guard Cade Cunningham, and Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown.
Cunningham earned his first start as the face of a Pistons team enjoying a dramatic rise to the top of the East, while Maxey and Brunson continued their ascents as elite scoring guards.
Starters were determined by a weighted voting system consisting of fans (50 percent), media members (25 percent), and players (25 percent). The league will announce the All-Star reserves on Sunday, with selections made by NBA coaches.
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This year's All-Star Game will feature a revamped "Team USA vs. the World" format, with rosters adjusted to ensure a minimum number of American and international players, setting the stage for a global showcase in February.
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