LeBron James, the record-setting machine, is at it again. This time, for his 22nd All-Star appearance, which makes him the second youngest (after Kobe) and the second oldest (behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) NBA player to ever participate in an ASG. He has arrived in stripes.

Team Stripes’ LeBron is out of the All-NBA awards race this season, having missed his 18th game already. Such setbacks hardly put a dent on his legacy, given that he continues to extend his All-Star tally.

Will the ‘L-Train’ aim to reach the 23rd station next year? We think yes. But before his jersey number becomes his All-Star count, we have a solid reason to look back and make a case for his worst and best performances in this event, which his younger self once dreamt of. 

Note that the rankings do not plainly come from statline, but also from the plays during clutch moments, the contextual importance of any particular game, and the sky-high benchmark that King James has set for himself.

The ones that were good, but not LeBron James good

#20

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2023: Salt Lake City

Statline: 14 mins, 13 pts, 1 reb, 4 ast

In a game where the duo of Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell outmatched the trio of Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, and Jaylen Brown, there wasn’t much that came from Bron. In fact, this was the first (and only) time Team LeBron tasted L since the All-Star game changed to this format in 2018.

Sure, this was a low point in the NBA’s All-Star narrative, with the two teams going uncompetitive in a defenseless slop. But King James putting in only one rebound’s worth of effort further showed the quality of this night, which goes down as a blemish. 

Highlight: Celtics star Tatum enjoyed a 27-point third quarter en route to an All-Star Game record of 55 points.

#19

2024: Indianapolis

Statline: 14 mins, 8 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast

With almost 400 combined points from the two teams, this East v West showcase had a 39-YO LeBron James completing zero long-range shots. Looking at his body language in that game, many guessed it was his final year as an All-Star (they were wrong).

Highlight: The rest of it was just Dame Time as he scored a couple of half-court daggers and thereby denied James the victory.

#18 

2021: Atlanta

Statline: 13 mins, 4 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast

This might appear obvious, but there are more reasons for this to be tagged as one of the worst than just the points scored.

This season was LeBron’s post-Disney Orlando bubble year, where he was with a whole new Lakers roster from the one that won him his 4th ring and without having much rest between the two seasons. To the NBA back office, this was Bron’s negative-PR version when he didn’t like the push for an All-Star under those circumstances.

Cut to the game night, he captained and won, but appeared unlike his regular self. He surely had Steph Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo by his side to take care of business, but outside of a reverse layup, nothing stood out. Something that his load management approach kept him from delivering.

Highlight: The Greek Freak went 16-16 from the field (3-3 from deep).

#17

2016: Toronto

Statline: 20 mins, 13 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast

In this loss to the West, LeBron James was otherwise at the peak of his career. This was the man who was some four months shy of upsetting the Warriors in the Finals and leading the comeback for ages. But that night in Toronto, even an aging Kobe Bryant, who played his last All-Star game, impressed more. 

But we can’t blame Bron for having some energy mismatch after back-to-back NBA Finals losses and for finding Curry in an unstoppable mode, even in an exhibition game.

Highlight: LeBron shared a rather unofficial and candidly scripted 1-v-1 against Kobe Bryant as the 5x NBA Champion left the court to a roaring ovation with a minute to go on the game clock.

#16

2013: Houston

Statline: 30 mins, 19 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast

In his athletic prime, matched with his champion Miami teammates and old friend Melo, LeBron did worse than his sky-high benchmarks.

Going 38.9% from the field, it soon became a faded-out performance in a tight game that saw CP3 taking home the W for his team.

Highlight: One can’t forget the block that the Black Mamba inflicted on a surprisingly clueless LeBron struggling under the rim.

#15

2009: Phoenix

Statline: 27 mins, 20 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast

A starting lineup that had a slump-bound Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett (meaning their careers had already hit a tipping point), Bron did what he could do best. But not enough, as they lost with a massive deficit.

Here, LeBron James, in his first MVP season, tried to glue the gaps with a couple of three pointers on a handful of attempts, but nothing that had a winning signature on it.

Highlight: The three-peat duo of Kobe & Shaq mingled back as the Black Mamba shared his MVP award with his friend-turned-foe-turned-friend at the time.

#14

2019: Charlotte

Statline: 27 mins, 19 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast

In a good show of his defensive prowess, King James was slightly inefficient as he dropped only 19 points on seventeen attempts. Good stat for the guy next to him, but not him.

However, thanks to Kevin Durant (31 PTS), Team LeBron won for a second year running, as Team Giannis (which also included a 40-YO Dirk Nowitzki) struggled big time in the second half. 

Highlight: It was a comeback game for Team LeBron that was rather headlined by Durant with his three-point play in the crucial ending minutes.

#13 

2005: Denver

Statline: 31 mins, 13 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast

2004 was the snub year for the rookie LeBron (who, btw, was part of the Team USA – Read the irony). So 2005 was supposed to launch an angry and statement-hungry Bron.

And we will admit, he did just that! The young LeBron gave an all-around performance on both ends of the floor and scored in double digits in a game where nobody touched 20 points on either roster.

As Bron won this game for his side, it launched an All-Star career that is still ongoing even as everyone else has long retired.

Highlight: Shaq >> Allen Iverson >> LeBron (an alley-oop for the history books)

The one that was LeBron James’s trademark

#12 

2017: New Orleans

Statline: 19 mins, 23 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast

John Stockton aside, LeBron James can very well leave behind Jason Kidd in all-time assists, given Bron plays one more season atleast. That makes him third overall.

And now, for him to go down with a single assist in a game where he is paired with his then teammate Kyrie Irving (who was in great synergy), it takes away a point in an otherwise decent performance.

Highlight: A dunk-fest, but a healthy and flying Anthony Davis here beat his future teammate in a very explosive battle.

#11

2014: New Orleans

Statline: 33 mins, 22 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast

Seven three-point attempts, zero conversions. In a game when a hard-pressing Carmelo Anthony was locked-in with eight conversions from behind the arc, the fans deserved more.

This particular event didn’t leave much scope for a memorable snapshot.

Highlight: PG’s late FTs were one thing, but it was Kyrie Irving’s ankle-breaking 8-0 run that brought the game back to EC’s kitty.

#10

2010: Arlington

Statline: 32 mins, 25 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast

A close 2-point game and a whole new LeBron. This was pre-The Decision Bron, who was increasingly itching to win the ultimate title. 

Well, 4 steals, 2 blocks and a 100% conversion from the line sealed the deal for the All-Star night. To top that, the clutch free-throw conversions from DWade and Chris Bosh helped, and with that, LeBron marked the beginning of a rocking year.

Highlight: A roller-coaster worth of the final two minutes, with swinging scores, it eventually came down to Melo’s miss and DWade’s bliss.

#9

2007: Las Vegas

Statline: 32 mins, 28 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast

As a complete two-way player, LeBron established himself against the game’s legends with his 55 FG% and great defense. 

This was honestly more of a Kobe game than a LeBron night, though. 

Highlight: Nothing very striking (unless we include this pre-game dance with Shaq), but Bron’s stature saw a rise.

#8

2020: Chicago

Statline: 19 mins, 23 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast

An emotional ride, the 2020 All-Star Game came three weeks after the crushing loss of the lives of the legendary Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. 

LeBron, who was the subject of Kobe’s final tweet, was smooth in his approach as the new fourth-quarter target format had kicked in. In an emotional night that was much more than the game, Bron and his team delivered a thrilling performance with a clutch 157-155 victory.

Highlight: A forgetful night for Kyle Lowry, but the last quarter 24-point Kobe tribute and Bron making a crucial layup, all felt like a script from the basketball gods.

#7

2022: Cleveland

Statline: 36 mins, 24 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast

At 37, LeBron charted his highest active minutes on the ASG floor in eight years. If this alone wasn’t impressive, he went for eleven three-point attempts, perhaps inspired by Steph Curry’s record-breaking 16 made threes.

They shaved off a close victory as LeBron proved that his knees were made out of steel. 

Highlight: At the back of an unstoppable Chef Curry, Bron in his home state brought a single-legged fadeaway over Zach LaVine right when it mattered the most.

Unmatched performances that made LeBron James synonymous with NBA All-Star Games

#6

2006: Houston

Statline: 31 mins, 29 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast

In his first All-Star Game MVP performance, LeBron went off. He lifted the team on his shoulders, scoring the much-needed 29 as Houston’s Tracy McGrady from the opposition was a force to be reckoned with.

This performance did put LeBron on the map early, especially as a clutch guy. One can’t forget his dunk in those final minutes as the cat and mouse game had all the dealmakers on the edge of their seats.

Highlight: A possessed Bron in the second half, alongside a Pistons task force from the bench, erased a 21-point deficit to mark a close W.

#5 

2015: New York

Statline: 32 mins, 30 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast

The Akron Hammer was back in Cleveland to deliver the Cavs’ first title, and this was an important event to make that statement. Going 80% from the line, if it was not for the sheer brilliance of peak Russell Westbrook, the Bron storm was ready to swallow all.

It was a satisfaction to all Bron fans to have him show up in a dominant style ahead of a series of epic seasons.

Highlight: A game for CP3 to cherish, but this one was a tape to vibe with. Imagine Tim Duncan from the bench cheering for Dirk Nowitzki.

#4 

2008: New Orleans

Statline: 30 mins, 27 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast

This was the same LeBron who, a few months ago, scored 29 out of the Cavs’ final 30 points against the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the ECF. So if momentum was a thing, he had it on steroids.

When thinking of the night, Kobe Bryant’s block on Gilbert Arenas comes to mind, but LeBron responded with his own set of four blocks. 

Highlight: I will just say that in this one-sided affair, LeBron’s highlights are the only memory.

#3

2011: LA

Statline: 32 mins, 29 pts, 12 reb, 10 ast

An All-Star Game triple-double is definitely an MVP-level performance. But even though the MVP was instead given to The Black Mamba (because, well, the West won), LeBron enjoyed a great night, even going 9-10 from the charity stripe. 

Highlight: A Gasol-Bryant iconic play, but LeBron, with a long-forgotten Amar’e Stoudemire, gave a final moment of victorious hope.

#2

2012: Orlando

Statline: 32 mins, 36 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast

A strong candidate for the top award, this one saw LeBron at his finest. The only reason this is placed second and not first is how Bron handled the final minutes.

But that aside, his 65.2% from the field and 75% from the deep made it a memorable performance, one for the ages.

Highlight: It was a Kobe vs Bron duel where the latter eventually passed the ball while he could have attempted a shot that might’ve forced OT.

#1

2018: LA

Statline: 31 mins, 29 pts, 10 rebs, 8 ast

Drumrolls, because this was The Akron Hammer’s last ASG performance as a Cavalier and first as the captain in the revamped All-Star game format. He shot above 70% from the field and almost secured another triple-double. 

With 100 seconds remaining on the game clock, Bron had his eyes on the prize, just as he shot a three and later backed it up with a clutch layup to seal the win.

Highlight: 

We have reached the end, but LeBron hasn’t, just yet. He will soon step on the court in the NBA All-Star Game 2026 in Intuit Dome, even as many big names have dropped out injured.

Now, it can very well be that you disagreed with the rankings. Feel free to share your order in the comments.