LeBron James ruined legendary All-Star picture with no uniform? Busting myth around outrage
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James pulled out of NBA All-Star game an hour before the games started.
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LeBron James posed in casuals alongside NBA All-Star teammates
The 2025 NBA All-Star weekend was going to see the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant team up as part of Shaquille O’Neal‘s OGs. They would be a part of the new for this year four-team tournament which would determine the victors.
However, an hour before the first game tipped off, LeBron James was seen in casuals. When his teammates were all suited up, the 40-year-old superstar made his way to the media room to reveal that he was not going to take part in the games.
He was struggling with ankle and foot discomfort which he felt could aggravate if he played. Then, he went on to take pictures with his OGs teammates as is customary during every All-Star weekend. That is where fans noticed an anomaly.
They were already enraged that the biggest superstar was not going to lead the veteran group. On top of that, he stood in the photo wearing casual clothes where the rest of his teammates were suited up. Fans believed he could have at least honored his team by wearing the jersey and shorts for the photo.
They also felt he could have also worn the player exclusive shoes Nike had sent him to use in this edition of the NBA All-Star weekend. Injuries are a part of the game. But the least they felt LeBron James could do was to at least suit up for the photo.
LeBron James did not break the norm
The outrage on social media saw fans taking turns to bash the Los Angeles Lakers superstar. They felt he did not do justice to his teammates. However, another fan dug up team photographs to see if the four-time MVP had indeed broken the norm.
The fan with the username @pickuphoop shared photographs from past All-Star games. In the first picture, Yao Ming, Carlos Boozer and Steve Nash are in suit and ties. Along with them are the rest of the 2007 West All-Star team who are in their jerseys and shorts.
In the second photograph, the late great Kobe Bryant and Brandon Roy not in uniform posing alongside the 2010 West All-Star team. Bryant and Roy were not playing due to injuries. In that photo, their replacements for the game were also pictured.
Therefore, it is inaccurate that LeBron James broke the norm by wearing casuals to the team photo op. He has done what others have been doing for a long time. However, another Team Shaq’s OGs injured player and now former teammate of Lebron James, Anthony Davis did not even make the trip to San Francisco.
Injured players not in uniform is standard practice https://t.co/7VhP9gzv7U pic.twitter.com/YmMM0veWDn
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) February 17, 2025
On the other hand, Charles Barkley‘s Global Stars player Giannis Antetokounmpo did make the trip despite being out of the activities. He posed alongside his teammates in full gear, which added the notion that probably LeBron James could have done the same.
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Joseph Varghese
(2502 Articles Published)