James' long streak of consecutive All-NBA appearances ends

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

LeBron James' long streak of consecutive All-NBA appearances ends after league's announcement

By Clark Dalton | Last updated May 25, 2026 8:46 AM ET

The All-NBA teams were revealed on Sunday, but Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James wasn't on the list.

It marks the first time he hasn't made the All-NBA team since his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04), ending a streak of 21 straight appearances. It wasn't a snub.

James played in 60 games this past season, missing the 65-game threshold for All-NBA teams. (A player can regain eligibility if it's ruled he had an exception.) The forward battled a back issue (sciatica) at the beginning of the season, sidelining him for 14 games.

James may wish he had made a 22nd All-NBA appearance, but his legacy as one of the greatest players in league history is set, and the streak itself is another testament to his greatness. Take a look at how he compares to other Hall of Famers.

The All-NBA Second and Third Teams ⬇️

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Who has the most consecutive All-NBA appearances?

James, 41, still holds the record for most consecutive All-NBA appearances. Former Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has the second most, with 15 from 1998-2013.

James also holds the record for most All-NBA appearances and most first-team All-NBA selections (13). Bryant is tied with former Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and former San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan for the most total selections (15). He and ex-Utah Jazz forward (11) Karl Malone are tied for the most first-team All-NBA nods (11).

If James had met the 65-game threshold, he would've had a strong case to make the All-NBA team again. This past season, he ranked 26th in the league in scoring (20.9 points per game), seventh in assists (7.2) and 28th in field-goal percentage (51.5 percent).

He and guard Luka Doncic (who made first-team All-NBA) formed a top tandem that helped the Lakers finish with the fourth-best record in the Western Conference (53-29). They beat the Houston Rockets in six games in the first round of the playoffs, but the Oklahoma City Thunder swept them in the second round.

Doncic didn't play in either series because of a hamstring issue. James carried the team with him out of the lineup, averaging 23.2 PPG and 7.3 APG.

He's nearing the end of his career, but he's still "King James." You don't have to look at the All-NBA teams to know that.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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