While for many NBA players, averaging 21.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists would be considered a career year, for LeBron James , this is probably statistically the worst one of his career, rookie season excluded. And considering that LeBron celebrated his 41st birthday just a week ago, this turn of events isn't exactly shocking.
However, in that same light, there have been plenty of speculations surrounding whether James will find his name on the list of selected players who will showcase their skills at the All-Star Game.
While some argue that this dip in production and overall impact doesn't necessarily scream All-Star anymore, Brendan Haywood stepped in and backed the idea that LeBron simply has to be part of the February festivities, largely because of everything he has done for the league throughout his 23-year career.
"Listen, LeBron has meant too much to the game. Too much to the game. He's made too many media careers. There are people that have made their career just covering this dude…" Haywood pointed out in the recent episode of the "Finding The Seams" podcast.
The last season in which The King wasn't a member of this elite group was also his first year in the Association. Back then, he was still a wide-eyed teenager, carrying the weight of an entire franchise, and soon enough, the entire league, on his shoulders. Fast forward 23 seasons later, and Bron is now a regular fixture in every serious Greatest of All Time debate.
For most of his career, he was the player who attracted eyeballs wherever he went, whether it was because of his stellar play or his dual nature, where many loved him just as passionately as others loved to hate him. Either way, LeBron was always the main event.
And that, according to Haywood, is the key reason why James should be in the All-Star Game, even if it has to be forced to a certain extent. Especially with the event being held in Los Angeles , Haywood believes anything different would feel unjust. James was the face of the league for years, and erasing him from that stage would simply feel wrong.
"This man has carried NBA ratings for two decades. Listen, if this is the last year, or maybe not the last year, I don't care. Put that man in the All-Star game, put the cameras on him. Let him do his LeBron James thing. LeBron James has earned that," he emphasized.
The first fan voting update released by the NBA showed LeBron's teammate, Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers (1,249,518 votes) and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (1,192,296 votes) leading their respective conferences for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. As of December 29, The Chosen One was sitting in ninth place in the West with 536,555 votes to his name.
And considering that fan voting accounts for 50 percent of the overall selection process, there is a very real possibility that LeBron will still find his place among the league's elite.
Either way, James' body of work speaks for itself. Sure, this season may be considered a down year by his own standards, but even at this stage of his career, he continues to produce, impact winning, and, perhaps most importantly, generate headlines.
And at a time when the NBA is searching for ways to revive the All-Star Game and make it relevant again, having James on that stage, deserved or not, might be exactly what the doctor ordered for Adam Silver.
For now, it remains a waiting game, as the next round of fan voting results is set to be released on Tuesday, January 6.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
