LeBron James injury update: Lakers star announces stunning decision on NBA All-Star Game

The biggest name on tonight’s roster for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game will now not be participating at all.

Just an hour or two from the start of the night’s events in San Francisco, LeBron James has ruled himself out with a foot and ankle issue. That also now ends a two-decade-long streak for James starting in the NBA All-Star Game.

“You won’t see anything from me tonight, unfortunately. I will not be in uniform tonight,” James said to the media on Sunday. “Still dealing with an ankle and foot discomfort so I will not be playing tonight, unfortunately. You know, I hate that.”

“I mean, it’s a little bit of both. You know, I was hoping that it would feel a lot better this morning, you know, but it’s not where I want it to be. You know, with 30 games left and us trying to make a playoff push in the wild, wild West, I felt like it was very important for me to kind of take care of myself and understand, you know, what’s coming on,” James continued regarding the injury. “I won’t say it’s maintenance. It is maintenance but, at the same time, it’s, like, I have to look out for myself when it comes to this and this injury that I’ve been dealing with for years.”

James was the first overall pick in the draft for this game by Shaquille O’Neal to play for Shaq’s OGs. It’s a big loss for that roster but the team is still a favorite tonight with Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks – Injury Replacement for Anthony Davis), Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks), James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers), and Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics). That team will start their night playing against the Rising Stars, the winners of the Rising Stars Event on Friday, left to Candace Parker.

There’s two ways that this can be looked at.

At a smaller level, James is as deserving of an off-day as anyone in the NBA. He is 40 years old with this being his 21st all-time selection as an All-Star, which is a record. With two decades headlining this weekend, James can miss it, especially with the Lakers in position to potentially host a series in the NBA Playoffs.

However, at a larger level for the league, it’s a massive hit to the festivities for All-Star Weekend. The event has seen much criticism in recent years for a lack of interest, including from the players themselves, as compared to the honor it has been in the past to be a part of the weekend. That will only continue now following this year’s event.

Still, the show will go on tonight with a new format set to debut inside the Chase Center.

As for James, he will return to Los Angeles tonight in hopes of being fully healthy once their season starts again later this week.

“I hope to be available on Wednesday. You know, we have to have a make-up game. I am headed back to LA tonight. There will be no vacation for me. So I head back to LA tonight and, you know, back to rehab tomorrow and getting ready for practice on Tuesday,” James said. “Hopefully I can play against Charlotte on Wednesday and hopefully play against Portland on Thursday.”