For the first time in 21 years, LeBron James has been left out of the NBA All-Star starting lineup.

If the King takes the floor during this season’s festivities, it will not be because fans pushed him there.

The league unveiled the Eastern and Western Conference starters, and while the list is packed with familiar names and fresh faces, James was not among them. In the East, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, and Jaylen Brown led the fan voting.

Out West, the starters are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and LeBron’s Lakers teammate, Luka Doncic.

At 41, James is usually near the top when fan votes are counted, but this time, he never truly entered the race. Injuries played a role, with sciatica limiting him to 24 games so far. Even so, he has put up solid numbers, averaging 22.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.9 assists.

The last time LeBron missed the All-Star Game entirely was his rookie season back in 2004, long before his son and current teammate Bronny entered the picture. While his run as a guaranteed starter has ended, his All-Star story this season is not over yet.

Reserve selections will be revealed on Sunday, with coaches making the final call. That decision will determine whether James extends his run to 22 straight All-Star appearances, even if the starting spotlight now belongs to others.