LeBron James “cheated the game” with All-Star snub
The Los Angeles Lakers star has received heavy criticism for backing out of the 2025 NBA All-Star game.
Los Angeles Lakers star and NBA legend LeBron James has seen heavy criticism rain down on him after he rejected the offer to play in the 2025 NBA All-Star game due to injury.
James has been nursing a lingering discomfort in his left foot and ankle, and his absence in the game was the first All-Star match that he had missed in his entire career after being selected a starter for a record 21st straight year in 2025.
Speaking about his fitness, James said “I was hoping it would feel a lot better this morning, but it was not where I wanted it to be. 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 on [down the stretch]."
Ok what else did I miss:
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) February 17, 2025
-Takes a spot on the all star roster
-Says his ankle hurts and isn’t going to play
-Then can’t even be bothered to put the uniform on for the pictures
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Lebron James pic.twitter.com/9Gx72YMp6L
‘I hold him responsible for the erosion of the contest’
However, his explanation has seemingly not washed with various commentators and pundits in the NBA world. Stephen A. Smith, an NBA analyst for ESPN, called James “selfish” and said that “there is no way around it... you could have let people know earlier. We know how great he is, but this brings up a couple of things he has done that has cheated the game. I hold him responsible for the erosion of the slam-dunk contest.”
Meanwhile, LeBron’s former teammate Kendrick Perkins said that it was the way in which LeBron announced his absence, just one hour before the game, that was wrong: “how about giving people a heads up?” he questioned, “you’re taking away from others' chance to be in that game.”
“I get it, he’s 40″, Perkins admitted, “but I’m mad about how he did it. It looked very selfish on his part. He should have handled it in a better way.”
As well as his comments to ESPN, Perkins also wrote on Twitter that James “could have said this earlier. Norman Powell could have made his first All-Star appearance. SMH.”
Could have said this earlier. Norman Powell could have made his first All-Star appearance. SMH https://t.co/LqqLHR7A11
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) February 16, 2025
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