Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will sit out the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday because of lingering discomfort in his foot and ankle.
The four-time champion missing the league’s showcase event ends a streak of 20-straight All-Star Game starts for James. He’d been selected as a starter every year since his second season in 2004-2005.
He was set to play for Shaq’s OGs, the team drafted by Shaquille O’Neal, for the mini tournament.
James, 40, said he hopes to be ready for the Lakers first game after the break on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets. He played in the Lakers’ last two games before the break, but did miss the team’s Feb. 8 matchup with the Indiana Pacers.
The Lakers are currently fifth in the Western Conference and looking to move up the standings after trading for star guard Luka Doncic earlier this month.
“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 what’s coming,” James said.
