LeBron James and his historic streak: At risk?
In the middle of the third quarter of a game on November 18, LeBron James, already the first player to participate in a season number 23, made sure to keep another historic streak intact. James, located on the right side of the court, passed the ball to Luka Doncic, who was on the perimeter to his left. After the pass, Austin Reaves moved from the paint towards the 3-point line to set a screen for Lauri Markkanen, who was defending the Lakers’ star. This action freed James to advance towards the basket, receive a pass from Doncic and score a layup, keeping his scoring streak alive. It was James’ sixth shot in the game, and the third to be made. The most important thing was that with those points, he reached 11 and ensured that his double-digit scoring streak, which he has maintained for 1,295 games in almost 18 years, would continue. James’s season debut helped maintain a much more prestigious, though less discussed, streak that defines his sustained greatness. However, this streak is nearing its end, and not necessarily due to a decline in James’s game. James has been named to 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 All-NBA First Team selections with 13, almost matching his closest competitors in total All-NBA selections: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, and Kobe Bryant, tied with 15. Since the first time James was included in the All-NBA team, the award that the league gives has changed from a plaque to a small crystal trophy in the shape of a basketball, and then to a larger piece of crystal. Furthermore, the voting for each team, which used to be composed of two guards, two forwards, and a center, is now determined by the total number of votes players receive, regardless of their position. James has been named to the All-NBA team for so long that the league, to combat the decreasing interest of fans in the regular season due to players missing time for workload management, changed the requirements to earn an All-NBA spot, 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. Also, the Lakers have 11 games left on back-to-back nights. James’ friend and agent, Rich Paul, of Klutch Sports, said he has not discussed James’ prospects for All-NBA this season.However, if it were up to Paul, James would withdraw from the contest.
While there have been occasional instances of a team sitting out a player on back-to-back nights due to their injury history, it’s more rare 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, with coach Steve Kerr announcing during the preseason that Horford simply wouldn’t play in 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 talked about his professional philosophy.“Look, at 41, I hope he doesn’t play on back-to-back nights. But at the same time, for him to make All-NBA team and things like that… he can’t miss too many more games.”
Rich Paul, LeBron James’ agent
It’s a responsibility, according to sources familiar with his way of 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. With L.A. entering a soft part of the schedule in mid-December, James missed two consecutive games and secured eight days of rest to recover from foot discomfort. During that time, for what Lakers coach JJ Redick called “personal reasons,” James was granted a justified absence from the team. Redick voted for the All-NBA teams in 2023-24 when he worked for ESPN, placing 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. 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’ desire to keep his All-NBA streak alive “never came up.” Even so, Redick has his own opinion on any possible pursuit of a twenty-second consecutive All-NBA selection for James.“I mean, historically at least, it’s probably a higher designation than being an All-Star. I think if you look at the Hall of Fame tracking, typically, obviously it’s changing, more and more guys are getting in now, but typically it’s more All-NBA awards that you have, the greater your chances are, versus having eight All-Star appearances [for example]. There are still a couple of guys that are out that have multiple All-Star appearances that haven’t gotten in, so I think it’s important for that.”
JJ Redick
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 have insisted he remains undecided, he could feel even more 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.“I don’t think an All-NBA appearance this year will make or break his resume.”
JJ Redick
