LeBron James and the Challenge of Maintaining His Historic Streak
In the middle of the third quarter of the November 18th game, LeBron James, already in his 23rd season, made sure to keep another of his impressive historical streaks intact. James, from the right side of the court near the Crypto.com Arena logo, passed the ball to Luka Doncic, located on the three-point line. After the pass, Austin Reaves moved from the paint to set a screen for Lauri Markkanen, who was defending the Lakers star. This action freed James, who headed towards the basket, received the ball from Doncic and scored a layup, thus ensuring the continuation of his record. This was the sixth time James attempted a shot in the game, and the third time he made it. The most important thing was that he scored 11 points, ensuring that his double-digit streak, which he has maintained for 1,295 games in almost 18 years, would continue. James’ season debut, which took place in Utah, could help him maintain an even more prestigious, though less discussed, streak that reflects his enduring greatness. However, this streak is dangerously close to ending, and not necessarily due to a decline in James’ performance. James has been included on an All-NBA team a record 21 consecutive times, receiving his first selection after his second season. In that time, there have been four U.S. presidents. He dominates this category so much that he also holds the record for most selections on the All-NBA First Team, with 13, surpassing his closest competitors in total All-NBA selections, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, and Kobe Bryant, who are tied with 15.Since the first time James was included in the All-NBA team, the award that the league gives to commemorate this honor has changed from a plaque to a small trophy in the shape of a crystal basketball, and then to a larger crystal trophy. In addition, the voting for each team, which used to be composed of two point guards, two forwards and a center, is now determined by the total number of votes that the players receive, regardless of their position.
He’s been selected for the All-NBA team for so long that the league, to combat the declining interest of fans in the regular season due to players missing time for workload management, changed the requirements to obtain a position in the All-NBA, or any other regular season award, requiring playing in at least 65 games to be eligible. This presents the biggest challenge for James to maintain this streak this season. On Tuesday, against the LA Clippers, the Lakers played their 17th game of the season, which means they had exactly 65 games left. James made his season debut after missing the first 14 games due to sciatica, a nerve problem that affected his lower back and the right side of his body. This means that, from now until the end of the Lakers’ regular season on April 12, James can only miss three games to remain eligible for All-NBA. And the Lakers have 11 more consecutive games on the schedule. Rich Paul, friend and agent of James, said that he has not discussed James’ prospects for All-NBA this season. However, if it depended on Paul, James would withdraw from the race for it.While there have been occasional instances where a team has sat a player out of consecutive games due to their injury history (the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard, and the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid are recent examples), it’s rarer for a team to do so simply because of age. Last month, the Golden State Warriors eliminated back-to-back games for 39-year-old Al Horford, and coach Steve Kerr announced in the preseason that Horford simply wouldn’t play both games. But it’s hard to imagine James accepting a similar deal. Last season, after completing a back-to-back playing 74 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Clippers in the middle of his twenty-second year in the league, James spoke about his professional philosophy.At 41 years old, I hope he doesn’t play consecutive games,” Paul said. “But at the same time, for him to be able to make the All-NBA team and things like that… he can’t miss many more games.
Rich Paul
It’s a responsibility, according to sources familiar with his thinking, that James takes seriously. He entered last season with the declared intention of playing all 82 games, something he had only done once in his career, in 2017-18. That goal lasted 23 games. In mid-December, with the Lakers entering a softer part of the schedule, James missed two games in a row and secured eight days of rest to recover from foot discomfort. During that time, for what Lakers coach JJ Redick called “personal reasons,” James received a justified absence from the team. Redick voted for the All-NBA teams in 2023-24 when he was working, putting James on the third team on his ballot. He recognizes his importance.“I’ve always thought that to be a leader of a team and someone who is trusted, your availability is key,” James said. “Being available for your teammates. And I know it’s a tough season. There are tough seasons every year. And many games hit us. You never know how the schedule is going to turn out. But I try to be available as much as I can.
LeBron James
Redick said that in all of his offseason conversations with James, James’s desire to keep his All-NBA streak alive “never came up.” Even so, Redick has his own opinion on any possible pursuit of a 22nd consecutive All-NBA selection for James. Redick believes that an All-NBA appearance this year will not define his resume. However, what could improve James’ resume would be another championship, which would raise his total to five. Giving James a night off every now and then, from now until mid-April, would help preserve his legs for what the Lakers hope will be a deep playoff run. At the same time, if James believes this could be his last season, something about which sources close to James insist he remains undecided, he could feel even more the responsibility to play in every game in what would then be a farewell tour. Redick said James’s night-to-night availability would be determined by a group including James, Redick, James’s longtime athletic trainer, Mike Mancias, and Dr. Leroy Sims, the Lakers’ director of player performance and health. That James plays in 65 of the last 68 Lakers games would already be remarkable. Playing well enough in those games to still be considered one of the top 15 players in the NBA, at 41 years old, would be even more so.Historically, at least, it’s probably a higher designation than being an All-Star,” Redick said. “I think if you look at the Hall of Fame tracking, normally, obviously it’s changing, more and more players are getting in now, but normally it’s more All-NBA awards that you have, the greater your chances are, compared to having eight All-Star appearances [for example].
JJ Redick
