SAN FRANCISCO—During last year’s All-Star Game, a conversation between Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic caught attention when microphones captured their exchange. The discussion revolved around the players James shared the court with in his initial All-Star appearance. “It was me, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy … that was my first All-Star Game back in ’68, I think,” James remarked. This statement, though slightly exaggerated, garnered interest.
James made his first All-Star Game appearance in 2005, not 1968, and has consecutively participated in the event ever since, making the forthcoming All-Star event in San Francisco his 21st, further solidifying his all-time record in this regard. “It’s always special and very humbling, and I don’t take it for granted, being an All-Star,” James expressed. “It’s something that, when I was a kid, I always watched the All-Star Game and I always wanted to be on that floor. It’s always special, and I’m pretty happy about it.”
This season, James surpassed 70 million career All-Star fan votes, setting a record. He has been the leading vote-getter on ten occasions, another record. These achievements add to James’ extensive list of All-Star accolades.
Being the oldest current NBA player and the league’s all-time leading scorer, James will be part of the team led by Shaquille O’Neal this weekend. His teammates will include Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, and James Harden.
Here is a snapshot of some of James’ All-Star career accomplishments:
– Games played and started—1st: James will make his 21st All-Star game selection, two more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and will mark his 21st All-Star appearance, three more than Abdul-Jabbar and six more than Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. He has been designated as an All-Star starter 21 times, six more than Bryant, who ranks second.
– MVP awards—tied for 3rd: James is a three-time All-Star MVP, equalling the achievements of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Oscar Robertson.
– Points—1st: James leads with 434 points in All-Star Games, significantly ahead of second-place Kobe Bryant (290) and third-place Kevin Durant (268).
– Oldest All-Star—3rd: James, now 40, is set to become the third-oldest player to participate in the All-Star Game, following Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dirk Nowitzki.
– Other records: James holds numerous other All-Star records, solidifying his legacy in the league.
In the realm of star minutes, James has amassed an impressive 537 minutes on the court, showcasing his enduring presence in the game. When it comes to field goals made, he has notched 182 successful shots out of 355 attempts, demonstrating his accuracy and skill in shooting. Moreover, his proficiency in attempting 3-pointers is evident with a total of 138 attempts.
Delving into James’ rankings in other key stats, it is noteworthy that he stands at 3rd place in 3-pointers made, having sunk 41 shots, trailing behind Stephen Curry with 51 and Damian Lillard with 42 successful attempts. In terms of assists, James holds the 3rd position with an impressive count of 113, slightly behind Chris Paul with 128 assists and Magic Johnson with 127. Furthermore, in the category of rebounds, he secures the 6th spot with a total of 114 rebounds, falling behind basketball legends such as Wilt Chamberlain with 197 rebounds, Bob Pettit with 178, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 149, Bill Russell with 139, and Tim Duncan with 136.
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