The NBA All-Star Game has struggled to garner fan interest with the players’ typical lack of effort and the game’s ever-changing format, and LeBron James certainly did not help the NBA’s cause Sunday night.
After being chosen as an All-Star starter for the 21st straight time, James announced less than two hours before the event’s tipoff that he would not be playing due to lingering ankle and foot discomfort.
Reporter: “What will we see from you tonight (the NBA All-Star Game)?”
LeBron James: “You won’t see anything from me tonight. Unfortunately, I will not be in uniform tonight. Still dealing with ankle and foot discomfort.”
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 17, 2025
Many took issue with the tardiness of the announcement.
Not only did the All-Star Game lose the participation of essentially its biggest star at the last second, but some players missed out on a potential appearance in the game as an injury replacement.
Four-time champ and All-Star Draymond Green is good friends with James and did not approve of the last-second decision.
“I think [James] could’ve helped somebody else out and said this earlier,” Green said.
Former players Vince Carter and Jalen Rose echoed the same sentiments.
“He took a roster spot from somebody,” Rose said.
“There are a lot of guys who are worthy,” Carter added.
And it’s not like the injury popped up out of nowhere, with James missing a game not even 10 days ago due to his ankle.
Fellow All-Stars Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo both suffered injuries following their respective selections, and both were replaced by other players from their respective conferences ahead of All-Star weekend, with Kyrie Irving and Trae Young getting the nods.
With how crucial All-Star appearances have become when determining players’ legacies, it begs the question: Why couldn’t James have been more upfront about his health and allowed the NBA to choose a replacement, just as the league does so often in other instances?
Devin Booker, Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Ja Morant and Norman Powell all had All-Star-worthy first halves of the season and could have replaced James.
Anthony Edwards also did not participate Sunday night as his “groin’s been messed up for a little minute.”
Edwards did, however, mention that he thinks he could’ve played had he been able to warm up longer.
In an effort to excite fans more and get competitiveness out of its players, the NBA split up All-Stars into a mini-tournament.
But while trying to “combat the best players not competing hard in the All-Star game,” James’ actions epitomized the players’ lack of care for the festivities.
