LeBron James Extends All-Star Record With 21st Consecutive Selection

LeBron James continues to make history, securing his 21st straight NBA All-Star selection, further extending his record as the league’s all-time leader in All-Star appearances. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo once again captured the fans’ hearts, earning the top spot in the fan vote for the second consecutive year.

The NBA announced its 2024 All-Star Game starters, with James once again leading the Western Conference frontcourt. This historic selection puts him two picks ahead of the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had 19 All-Star appearances throughout his career.

2024 NBA All-Star Game Starters Revealed

This year’s All-Star starters were selected through a weighted voting system, which consists of:

50% fan votes,
25% media panel, and
25% player votes.

The Eastern Conference starters include:

Guards: Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Frontcourt: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)

The Western Conference starters include:

Guards: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Frontcourt: Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

A New All-Star Game Format for 2024

This year marks a revamped All-Star format, introducing a three-team tournament featuring:

Three teams of eight players, drafted by NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith
A four-team competition, with a rookie and sophomore squad joining the mix from the Rising Stars Challenge
Games will be fast-paced, with each contest ending when a team reaches 40 points

This fresh approach aims to bring excitement to the All-Star Weekend, as the last two games set unprecedented scoring records. In 2023, Jayson Tatum broke the single-game scoring record with 55 points, and last year’s contest ended with a staggering 211-186 final score.

LeBron James: Defying Age and Setting Records

At 39 years old, LeBron James is on the brink of becoming just the third player in NBA history to participate in an All-Star Game after turning 40. He joins elite company with:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who appeared at age 40 and 41
Dirk Nowitzki, who made his final All-Star appearance at 40

LeBron’s 21 consecutive All-Star starts also set another record, surpassing the next-longest streak of 13 by Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousy.

All-Star Reserves Yet to Be Announced

While the starting lineup is set, the remaining 14 All-Star reserves will be determined by the league’s head coaches, with the selections announced on January 30. Some top contenders for the remaining spots include:

Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks) – last year’s All-Star MVP
Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)
LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets)

All-Star Weekend Countdown Begins

The much-anticipated NBA All-Star Weekend is set to take place in San Francisco on February 16, promising thrilling matchups and star-studded performances.

With LeBron James continuing to break records and a new format shaking things up, this year’s event is shaping up to be one for the history books.