LeBron James Ruled Out of All-NBA Teams: The 65-Game Rule Sparks Debate
LeBron James’ season takes a historic turn: his absence against the Spurs excludes him from the NBA awards, interrupting a 21-year All-NBA streak
The Los Angeles Lakers fell 136-108 to the Spurs, but the real headline goes far beyond the final score: LeBron James is officially out of the running for end-of-season awards, ending a historic 21-year consecutive All-NBA streak, the longest in league history.
The reason is a forced absence due to arthritis in his left foot, which caused James to miss his 18th game of the season. That number makes it mathematically impossible for him to reach the 65-game threshold required to be eligible for NBA Awards.
A rule that changes the landscape
The 65-game rule, introduced by the NBA starting with the 2023-24 season, continues to divide opinions. The goal is clear: incentivize player availability and protect the value of the regular season. But cases like LeBron’s have reignited the debate.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick, speaking before the matchup against San Antonio, offered a balanced perspective:
Having guidelines for voters is fair. But turning them into a rigid constraint might not always be the best solution.
JJ Redick
Redick, who previously served as a voter himself, recalled how in past eras players who appeared in just 54-56 games were still considered for individual honors.
Spurs agree in principle, less on the details
On a similar note, at least partially, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson defended the spirit of the rule without fully endorsing its application:
The intention makes sense: playing 82 games is extremely demanding, physically and mentally. But deciding whether 65 is the right number is another discussion.
Mitch Johnson
Johnson emphasized how the rule can penalize elite-level seasons when injuries inevitably come into play.
The Wembanyama precedent and the Doncic case
A recent example is Victor Wembanyama, who appeared in just 46 games last season before a season-ending injury, yet still led the NBA in blocks per game (3.8) and was widely considered a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
The situation is also delicate for Luka Doncic, who has missed three straight games due to a mild left hamstring strain. The Lakers’ No. 77 has already sat out 11 games and can afford to miss only six more if he wants to remain eligible for awards.
According to sources close to the team, Doncic resumed running on Monday and is scheduled for a full-contact 5-on-5 session. A return against the Dallas Mavericks, his former team, is not out of the question, while participating in the All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome remains a goal.
At 26 years old, Doncic is also the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, surpassing 3 million votes.
The end of an era, not of a legend
LeBron’s All-NBA streak comes to an end, but the context tells a much broader story than a simple number. Between load management, new regulations, and a league increasingly focused on regular-season availability, even the game’s greatest icons must adapt to a changing NBA.