Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James reached a significant milestone by being selected for his 21st NBA All-Star Game.

LeBron James (Photo by Chris Nicoll/Imagn Images)
However, he missed the 2025 All-Star contest due to ongoing foot and ankle soreness. This ends his remarkable streak of 20 consecutive All-Star starts.

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As the All-Star weekend wrapped up with Team Shaq winning, Lakers fans grew increasingly concerned about James’s health and its impact on the rest of the season, as the team’s hopes heavily rely on his performance. In light of this situation, ESPN’s Shams Charania provided insight into James’s condition.

“I’m told that LeBron James will be re-evaluated later today, and there’s optimism that he can be able to play in at least one of the next two games,” Charania said in the recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today.

The Lakers will play the next game against the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena. While James’ presence is crucial for the Lakers’ success, his recovery is even more important to ensure he is ready to play if the Lakers make it to the playoffs.

Shams Charania Discusses Lakers’ Approach To Luka Doncic And LeBron James Duo

The Lakers recently acquires Luka Doncic in the blockbuster deal with the Dallas Mavericks that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks in exchange. This deal made the dominating Duo of James and Doncic in the Lakers. During the recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, Charania mentioned that the on-court chemistry between Doncic and James is a crucial element for the Lakers.

“What the Lakers are weighing here is, on one hand, the importance of the Luka Doncic-LeBron James chemistry and what that would signify for the second half of the NBA season. But also, the other side of it is weighing potentially sitting LeBron James against these two lesser opponents. … As opposed to him playing, they could be looking at nine days of total rest,” Charania said.

Doncic’s trade is one of the most shocking and unexpected trades in the league’s history. However, Lakers fans were pleased with this trade as Doncic began showcasing his skills in the games for the Lakers. The team currently holds the 5th spot in the Western Conference standings, with 32-20 record.