LeBron James will once again be present at the NBA All-Star Game, although this time he will do so from the group of reserves. The league announced the reserve players for the mid-season game on Sunday, which will be played on February 15, and the name of the Los Angeles Lakers star was the last to be revealed, extending a historic record that continues to grow year after year. With this selection, James reaches his 22nd consecutive All-Star appearance, an absolute record in the NBA. The selection was made by the league's coaches last week, as established by the rules, after the starters were previously determined by a combined vote of fans, players, and media. This time, LeBron was not chosen as a starter, something unusual in his career, although that did not prevent him from being part of the event again. The announcement came before the game between the Lakers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where James shared the court with three other All-Stars: starters Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson, as well as fellow reserve Karl-Anthony Towns. Last season, LeBron was unable to participate in the All-Star Game due to injury, making his return to the event even more significant.

Reserves, Records, and New Event Format

Among the Western Conference reserves, James will be joined by Kevin Durant, who earned his sixteenth All-Star selection, becoming the fourth player with the most appearances in league history. Durant surpassed Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, and trails only Kobe Bryant (18), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19), and LeBron James himself.

The West's reserve pool also includes Anthony Edwards (fourth selection), Devin Booker (fifth), Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, and Deni Avdija, the latter three making their All-Star debuts.

In the East, Karl-Anthony Towns makes his sixth appearance, along with Donovan Mitchell (seventh), Pascal Siakam (fourth), and Scottie Barnes (second). Jalen Duren, Norman Powell, and Jalen Johnson were also selected for the first time.The NBA will once again implement its USA vs. World format, with three teams of eight players each. Two will be made up of American players and the third of international players. Each team will play two games,and the two best will advance to the end. In case of a tie, the tiebreaker will be point differential. Commissioner Adam Silver will have to name at least one replacement due to the confirmed absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be unable to play due to a calf injury. Silver also has the authority to make additional adjustments to complete the rosters, which must consist of 16 American players and 8 international players. Despite not being a starter, LeBron James' presence is once again one of the main focuses of the All-Star Game. At 40 years old, the league's oldest player continues to expand a legacy that is already unparalleled, even from the bench.