For 21 consecutive seasons, LeBron James has been voted an all-star. His consistency and longevity are unmatched. In 2025-26, James’ availability has been impacted by lingering injuries.
The 41-year-old has started 15 of the Lakers’ 31 games this season. He missed the first 14 games of the 2025-26 season due to sciatica on his right side. Voting for the 2026 All-Star Game is underway, and early results are in. For the first time in a while, LeBron James is not leading the Western Conference in votes. Warriors’ Draymond Green recently argued on his podcast that Adam Silver needs to find a way to get LeBron in the All-Star Game.
Will LeBron James be selected for the 2026 All-Star Game in Los Angeles?
Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo lead their conferences in the first fan returns in NBA All-Star Voting 2026.
Fans (50% of the vote) join NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%) in selecting five players in each conference honored as starters.
Next fan update: 1/6. pic.twitter.com/pHykl9yhTE
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 29, 2025
Since the 2004-05 season, LeBron James has been selected to every All-Star Game. He’s done that as a member of the Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers. Typically, LeBron finishes in the top three for voting in his respective conference. That was true for the 2025 All-Star Game when he received 3,339.907 votes. Second in the West to Denver’s Nikola Jokic. After the first return on votes in 2026, fans were shocked to see where LeBron James was.
He slipped all the way to ninth in the West with 536,555 total votes. Not where James expected to be at this point in the voting. Recently, Warriors forward Draymond Green spoke about James’ all-star status on his podcast. Green mentioned the fact that James has only played in about half of the Lakers’ games this season. That’s made it difficult for LeBron to be in the all-star conversation early on.
Draymond wants Adam Silver to find a way to put LeBron in the All-Star game
“I know a lot of people are like ‘oh man he shouldn’t be an All Star’. Shut up. Yes he should. He’s been the face of the NBA for 20 years. Figure it out.”
(h/t @HeatCulture13)
pic.twitter.com/Slb5AWu6EO— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 31, 2025
However, Draymond Green made it clear that LeBron James should have a spot in this year’s All-Star Game. Gree said, “He’s been the face of the NBA for 20 years. Figure it out.” It’s unknown if this is LeBron’s final season. For that reason alone, he should make the 2026 All-Star Game. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has made exceptions in the past.
In 2019, Silver added Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade to the All-Star Game in their final seasons. That is where the issue arises. The league is unsure if this will be LeBron James’ final year.
With a player of his status, one would expect James to announce that before the year begins. Allowing him to receive a well-deserved farewell tour. Fans will have to wait and see if 41-year-old LeBron James misses his first All-Star Game in two-plus decades. The next results from fan voting will be released on Tuesday, January 6.
