LeBron James played in his 20th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night in Indianapolis, surpassing Los Angeles Lakers legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most appearances in league history.
Much has been made of James’s incredible longevity. The fact that he’s been able to maintain an elite level of play for two decades has astonished fans and pundits alike.
James, 39, stepped back for a moment and poked fun at his career longevity while sitting on the bench with his Western Conference teammates during the game.
James jokingly told Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokić that he played in his first All-Star Game in 1968 alongside the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Cousy.
"It was me, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Dr. J... that was my first All Star Game back in '68"
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2024
Bron joking to Jokić about his first ASG 😂 pic.twitter.com/W8komg7x7U
“It was me, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Dr. J … that was my first All-Star Game back in ’68,” James said, as Jokic, Paul George and Luka Dončić chuckled.
James then went on to reveal whom he actually suited up with and competed against in his 2005 All-Star debut—players such as Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan—calling the collection of stars a “hell of a group.”
It sometimes seems as if James has been playing since 1968, especially relative to many other stars in the league. Kudos to James for giving fans a humorous moment during what turned into an otherwise-forgettable All-Star Game.
