NBA All-Star Game 2022: Lakers' LeBron James ties Kobe Bryant with 18th selection

LeBron James' unparalleled run of sustained greatness continues with the 18th All-Star selection of his 19-year career.

After missing out as a rookie, James has now been selected as an All-Star for 18 consecutive seasons, a streak that began with the 2004-05 season. In earning his 18th All-Star selection, James has tied Kobe Bryant for the second-most selections to the All-Star Game in NBA history and is just one shy of tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was selected to 19 All-Star Games during his Hall of Fame career.

LeBron might currently be second on the all-time list in All-Star selections, but no one has started in more All-Star Games than him. He's been selected as an All-Star starter for each of his 18 All-Star appearances. Not only was James voted in as a starter in 2022, but he was also the league's leading vote-getter for the ninth time in his career, tying him with Michael Jordan for the most years as the All-Star Game's leading vote-getter.

James was the All-Star Game's leading vote-getter for the fifth consecutive year, meaning he will serve as an All-Star captain during the NBA's All-Star Draft for a fifth straight time. Since the NBA adopted its All-Star Draft, "Team LeBron" has posted a perfect 4-0 record in the All-Star Game.

MORE: How does the NBA All-Star Draft work?

James, who turned 37 on Dec. 30, 2021, is the fourth-oldest active player in the NBA and the oldest player selected to start in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. It's also worth noting that LeBron is the second-youngest player to make an All-Star Game appearance (20 years, 52 days) and the youngest All-Star Game MVP ever (21 years, 51 days).

And, for what it's worth, the oldest NBA All-Star Game MVP is Shaquille O'Neal (36 years, 346 days). James, who is averaging 29.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game this season, is a viable candidate for the award, which would be the fourth of his career, tying the all-time record held by Bryant and Bob Pettit.

In the history of the NBA All-Star Game, only six players — Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan, Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki — have played in the annual event after turning 38. With one more selection, LeBron would become the seventh, tying Abdul-Jabbar's all-time record in the process.

Who has earned the most selections to the All-Star Game?

* Nowitzki was a special roster selection in 2019.

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