SAN FRANCISCO – There was a dialog that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had with Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic throughout final yr’s All-Star Recreation that went viral, since microphones picked up the change.
The query was about who James performed with in his first All-Star look.
“It was me, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy … that was my first All-Star Recreation again in ’68, I feel,” James mentioned.
It was an exaggeration. A slight one, maybe.
James’ first All-Star Recreation was in 2005 — not 1968, after all — and he hasn’t missed one since, which means Sunday’s All-Star occasion in San Francisco will likely be his twenty first and additional prolong his all-time report in that division.
“It’s all the time particular and really humbling and I don’t take it with no consideration, being an All-Star,” James mentioned. “It’s one thing that, once I was a child, I all the time watched the All-Star Recreation and I all the time needed to be on that flooring. It’s all the time particular and I’m fairly blissful about it.”
He went over the 70 million mark in profession All-Star votes from followers this season (a report), has been the main vote-getter 10 occasions (one other report) — and people are simply the beginning of James’ lengthy, lengthy, lengthy record of All-Star accomplishments.
James — the oldest present participant within the league and the NBA’s all-time main scorer — will play on the staff drafted by Shaquille O’Neal this weekend, together with Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Dallas’ Kyrie Irving, Boston teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard and the Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden.
A take a look at a few of James’ all-star profession ranks:
Video games performed and began — 1st
This will likely be James’ 21th All-Star recreation choice, two greater than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It’ll even be his twenty first All-Star look, three greater than Abdul-Jabbar and 6 greater than Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.
It is also James’ twenty first time when he’s been designated as an All-Star starter (six greater than Bryant, who’s second on the record). He might technically begin two video games on Sunday if his staff makes the championship recreation of the brand new mini-tournament.
And all 21 of these begins have been consecutive, which is eight greater than Bob Cousy’s second-place run of 13 straight All-Star begins.
MVP awards — tied for third
James is a three-time All-Star MVP, tied with Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Oscar Robertson.
That’s tied for third on the NBA all-time record: Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit have been each four-time All-Star MVPs.
Factors — 1st
This report might stand for a protracted, very long time, particularly if this new mini-tournament format the place the first-to-40-points staff wins continues.
James has 434 factors in All-Star Video games, properly forward of No. 2 Kobe Bryant (290) and No. 3 Kevin Durant (268). Michael Jordan is fourth with 262 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is fifth with 251.
Amongst lively gamers, solely Durant has scored a minimum of half the factors James has managed in All-Star Video games.
Oldest All-Star — third
James is the second-youngest All-Star ever — and now he’s about to be the third-oldest as properly.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was 41 years, 302 days outdated when he performed in his remaining All-Star Recreation in 1989. Dirk Nowitzki was 40 years, 243 days when he made his farewell look in 2019.
James, who turned 40 on Dec. 30, is ready to hitch them as the one 40-somethings to play within the All-Star Recreation. Michael Jordan was a few week shy of 40 when he performed his remaining All-Star Recreation in 2003.
Most of … properly, numerous different issues, too
He’s the all-time chief in All-Star minutes (537), discipline targets made (182), discipline targets tried (355) and 3-pointers tried (138).
James’ rank in different stats:
— 3-pointers made, third: He has 41, whereas Stephen Curry has 51 and Damian Lillard has 42.
— Assists, third: He has 113, whereas Chris Paul has 128 and Magic Johnson has 127.
— Rebounds, sixth: He has 114, whereas Wilt Chamberlain has 197, Bob Pettit has 178, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 149, Invoice Russell has 139 and Tim Duncan has 136.
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