LeBron James’ Career Decline Reaches New Level With NBA Rule

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is seeing time catch up with him in his storied career as a record streak comes to an end.

James, 41, sat out his 18th game of the season on Tuesday, which made him ineligible for all regular season awards, because he won’t be able to play in at least 65 games. It ended his record 21-year streak of All-NBA honors, and he won’t play in the All-Star game for a second straight year.

Injuries have beset James this season. He most recently dealt with left foot arthritis and has also endured a right sciatica nerve problem.

Lakers head coach J.J. Redick defended the NBA rule. Redick, who once covered the NBA in the media, has voted for the awards before.

“I think it’s fine to have some sort of guidance for voters,” Redick told reporters after the Lakers’ 136–108 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. “I know the first year that I voted, there were a bunch of guys that were in like that 54- to 56-game range.”

James has played as few as 45 games in a season due to injury over the years and still accrued awards. That’s because the rule only came about in the 2023–2024 season.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson weighed in on the NBA rule after the win over the Lakers. Johnson has been on the Spurs’ staff since 2019 before he became head coach this season.

“I think the intention behind the rule makes sense,” Johnson told reporters. “Try to incentivize and motivate players to play. Playing games in this league over 82 games of just regular-season games is a lot, and it’s tough and there’s a lot of bumps and bruises and four-letter-word things that people play through.

“And I think that’s a skill and that’s a demand that these guys push through mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I understand the intention of it,” he said.

“The details, if 65 games is the right number, people should be ineligible for certain awards [if they do not reach it], I honestly haven’t given it much thought. I think it obviously stinks for guys who have really great years.”

James has been the most dominant player in the NBA over the past two decades with career averages of 26.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. He has won four MVPs, four NBA Finals MVPs, six All-Defensive team honors, one scoring title, and Rookie of the Year back in 2003–2004.

In 35 games this season, James has averaged just 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists. James has been sitting out when games fall on back-to-back days, which was the case on Tuesday after a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

“I’m 41 years old, of course, it’s always, every back-to-back, for the rest of the season, is TBD. I am 41,” James told reporters on Jan. 6. “I got the most minutes in NBA history. Bank it right now. What are we talking about? What are we talking about?”

It’s speculated that his time with the Lakers could end in free agency after the season, amid the injuries, reduced playing time, and expressed dissatisfaction in general. That came out on Monday after the loss against the Thunder.

“That’s a championship team right there. We’re not,” James told reporters Monday. “We can’t sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes, and they can. That’s why they won the championship.”

After the season, the Lakers are possibly looking to add other players rather than pay James a big contract extension at the end of his career. James could return to his home state with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and numerous other options exist with varying fits. Teams to watch for include the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks.