LeBron James won’t take part in Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game.
The Lakers superstar revealed a little more than an hour before it started that he won’t play due to foot and ankle discomfort.
“You won’t see anything from me tonight, unfortunately, I will not be in uniform tonight,” James told reporters. “Still dealing with ankle and foot discomfort, so I will not be playing tonight. I hate that, but I’m looking forward to seeing the format. This is the first year for it. … That should be fun.”
LeBron James announces that he will not play in tonight’s NBA All-Star Game due to ankle and foot issues.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 16, 2025
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/C2u4PdHdoC
James was slated to play as a member of Shaq’s OGs squad in the new format, which features a single-elimination mini-tournament of four teams comprised of eight players.
The winner of each game will advance to the championship, with the Shaq’s OGs squad slated to take on a team comprised of first and second-year players.
James had been slated to play alongside Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis, now his former Lakers teammate.
“They call us the O.G.’s, that’s hilarious — we got a few guys with some grey hairs, so that makes sense,” James said before the All-Star Game started.