Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James, a dominant figure in basketball, recently opted out of the 2025 NBA All-Star Game due to persistent ankle and foot issues. This decision, while understandable given his and his team’s playoff aspirations, marked the first time in two decades that the 40-year-old would be absent from the league’s annual showcase of talent. This withdrawal snapped a remarkable 20-year streak of All-Star appearances, underscoring the impact of time even on a player of James’s caliber.
Known for his incredible longevity, durability, and consistent peak performance, James’s absence from the All-Star Game serves as a reminder of his human limitations. Maintaining elite status in any sport for 22 years is a feat virtually unattainable without some physical setbacks. With James sidelined for the festivities, it’s a pertinent moment to delve into his career injury history and explore just How Many Games Has Lebron Missed In His Career due to various ailments.
LeBron James’s Remarkable Early Career Durability
Incredibly, during the initial phase of his career, LeBron James showcased unparalleled resilience. He participated in 842 out of his first 886 regular-season games. This astonishing statistic translates to a 95% attendance rate across his first 11 professional seasons. Such consistency is extraordinary at any stage of a career, but particularly at the beginning of a demanding NBA journey.
Early Setbacks: Ankle Sprains in the Initial Seasons
Even in his early, robust years, James wasn’t entirely immune to injuries.
2003-04 Season: As a rookie, James experienced his first absence due to a sprained right ankle, causing him to miss three games.
2004-05 Season: Another left ankle sprain in his second season sidelined him for two games.
2005-06 Season: Recurring issues with his left ankle led to James missing three of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ final four games of the 2005-06 season.
2006-07 Season: This season saw a collection of minor injuries including a right big toe sprain, right knee tendinitis, and back spasms. Despite these, he only missed a total of four games.
2007-08 Season: This season marked the first time James missed more than a handful of games. A sprained left index finger kept him out for five games, followed by two more games due to a right ankle sprain and for rest purposes.
2008-09 Season: James’s sole absence in this season was a planned rest day, missing the regular-season finale as the Cavaliers had already secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
2009-10 Season: Continuing the trend, James missed games primarily for rest. He sat out four games for rest and two due to a right ankle sprain.
Miami Heat Era: Maintaining Peak Performance with Strategic Rest
His move to the Miami Heat in 2010-11 saw a continuation of James’s impressive availability, with a more strategic approach to rest implemented.
2010-11 Season: In his first season with Miami, a left ankle sprain caused him to miss two games, and one game was attributed to rest.
2011-12 Season: During the lockout-shortened season, rest became a more prevalent factor in James’s absences, with three games missed for rest and one for a left ankle sprain.
2012-13 Season: This season hinted at the accumulating wear and tear. A right hamstring strain forced him to miss four games, indicating the first signs of more significant muscle-related issues.
2013-14 Season: Back spasms and a broken nose were the reasons for absences this season, but neither kept him out for more than a single game. His tenure with the Heat was defined by remarkable consistency, playing in 294 of 312 possible regular-season games during this period.
Los Angeles Lakers Years: The Toll of Time and Increased Missed Games
Upon joining the Los Angeles Lakers, the impact of age and accumulated mileage became more apparent, leading to more frequent absences.
2014-15 Season: This season marked a turning point with a significant increase in missed games. James was sidelined for 13 games due to various issues, notably left knee/foot and lower back soreness, which kept him out for eight consecutive games.
2015-16 Season: Interestingly, none of James’s six absences in this season were injury-related, suggesting a focus on preventative rest.
2016-17 Season: Rest continued to be a primary reason for missed games, with seven of eight absences attributed to rest, and one due to strep throat.
2017-18 Season: Demonstrating extraordinary endurance, James played all 82 games this season, leading the league in minutes for the second consecutive year.
2018-19 Season: His first season with the Lakers was hampered by a strained left groin, leading to two extended periods of absence and a total of 27 missed games as the team managed his recovery.
2019-20 Season: While the Lakers won the NBA title, James still missed 15 games, signaling a continued trend of more frequent absences.
2020-21 Season: A severe right high-ankle sprain significantly contributed to his 27 missed games in a season shortened to 72 games due to the pandemic.
2021-22 Season: An abdominal strain and left knee swelling were the primary reasons for missing multiple games, with James appearing in 56 of 82 regular-season games in a challenging season for the Lakers.
2022-23 Season: Persistent foot issues continued to trouble James, limiting him to 55 games for the season, marking a third consecutive season of playing less than 60 games.
2023-24 Season: This season was relatively healthier for James as a Laker, with the only back-to-back absences due to left ankle peroneal tendinopathy. He played in 71 games.
2024-25 Season: Currently, James is managing ongoing foot and ankle injuries. Despite playing in 48 of the Lakers’ first 52 games before the All-Star break, the recent All-Star game withdrawal raises questions about the long-term impact of these persistent issues.
Conclusion: LeBron James’s Missed Games in Perspective
So, how many games has LeBron missed in his career? Based on this review, LeBron James has missed a total of approximately 150 regular season games up to the 2024-25 All-Star break. While this number may seem significant, it is crucial to consider the context of his extraordinary 22-year NBA career. For the vast majority of his career, especially in his early years, James was remarkably durable, consistently playing a high volume of games at an elite level.
The increase in missed games in recent seasons, particularly with the Lakers, reflects the natural effects of aging and the accumulated physical toll of two decades in the NBA. Strategic rest and injury management have become increasingly important for James to maintain his peak performance and contribute to his team’s success. Despite the missed games, LeBron James’s career remains a testament to exceptional athleticism, longevity, and an unparalleled commitment to the game of basketball.
