NEW YORK (AP) — For two decades, LeBron James being an All-Star was almost a certainty.
This season, it was no sure thing. And for James, who just wanted to get healthy enough to play in real games, it wasn't a priority.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks with actor Ben Stiller during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles around New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James walks up court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, looks to pass the ball around New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, front right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart, left, defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
“I really didn’t think about it, to be honest,” James said Sunday after he was chosen as a reserve by Western Conference coaches for his NBA-record 22nd consecutive All-Star selection.
That's because James, 41, didn't even play until the Lakers' 15th game after being sidelined by sciatica. Not only had he missed nearly a month of the regular season, but also the offseason work he put in to become the NBA's career scoring leader and the first player in history to play 23 seasons.
“It wasn’t a goal of mine to come into the season, miss the first 14 games and say, ‘OK, I can be an All-Star," James said after scoring 22 points in the Lakers' 112-110 loss to the Knicks in his 32nd career game at Madison Square Garden.
“I just wanted to get back to playing the game at a high level I knew I was capable of once I kind of worked the rust off of missing preseason, training camp, my summer workouts, which I’ve never done in my whole career. So I didn’t think about the All-Star Game, to be honest.”
James has come on strong since his birthday on Dec. 30 and joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Hall of Famer he surpassed to become the career scoring leader, as the only players with multiple All-Star selections after age 40.
James' selection sparked some debate — which rarely happened for most of his streak that began in 2005 — after players such as the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, and Houston's Alperen Sengun were not selected.
“Of course he deserves it,” said teammate Luka Doncic, who was voted in as a starter. “He’s playing at a top level still at that age. It’s incredible to share the floor with him.”
James, who missed last year's game because of injury, is also the career leader in points and minutes in the All-Star Game. He can now add to those totals in the Feb. 15 game at the home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
“The coaches voted, right, so mad respect to the coaches and them seeing the way I’m still playing at this latter stage of my career,” James said. “And to be able to be an All-Star means a lot to my family, people that have been following my career, my LeBron faithful. They’ve been following my journey and it’s always rewarding just from a humbling standpoint to be able to be rewarded for what you put your work into.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks with actor Ben Stiller during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles around New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James walks up court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, looks to pass the ball around New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, front right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart, left, defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 68th annual Grammy Awards will take place Sunday with a dramatically different tone than last year.
The 2025 award show was completely reimagined and refocused to relief efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires. In 2026, focus has been placed once again on the music, where Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and more will go head-to-head.
Comedian Trevor Noah will host for a sixth and final year and history could be made when some of the biggest names in music gather. Here’s some key things to know ahead of Sunday’s show at the Crypto.com Arena.
The main show will air live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 1.
The Grammys can also be watched through live TV streaming services that include CBS in their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.
Paramount+ premium plan subscribers will be able to stream the Grammys live; Paramount+ essential subscribers will have on-demand access the next day.
The premiere ceremony will take place just ahead of the Grammys’ ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It can be streamed at the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com.
The Associated Press will stream a four-hour red carpet show with interviews and fashion footage. It will be streamed on YouTube and APNews.com ahead of the Grammys on Sunday.
Kendrick Lamar leads the 2026 Grammy Award nominations with nine. Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut follow with seven nominations each.
Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas and Serban Ghenea all boast six nominations. Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile and Tyler, the Creator have five each.
Doechii, Harry Styles, Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Jeff Goldblum, Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah and Teyana Taylor will present at the 2026 Grammys.
Performers include Justin Bieber, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Sabrina Carpenter Bruno Mars, Rosé, Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga and all eight of the this year’s best new artist nominees: Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, global girl group Katseye, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young.
Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage for the in memoriam. Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.
For more coverage of this year’s Grammy Awards, visit: www.apnews.com/GrammyAwards
Andrew Watt, from left, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, Post Malone and Slash perrform "War Pigs" during the in memoriam tribute for the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Lauryn Hill performs an in memoriam tribute during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Finneas, left, and Billie Eilish accept the award for song of the year for "Wildflower" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. Carole King looks on from right. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Olivia Dean arrives at the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Olivia Dean performs "Man I Need" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Kendrick Lamar, left, accepts the award for best rap album for "GNX" from Queen Latifah, and Doechii during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Host Trevor Noah speaks during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
XXX during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Sabrina Carpenter performs "Manchild" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Yungblud, left, and Sharon Osbourne arrive at the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
The team from KPop Demon Hunters react in the audience to winning the award for best song written for visual media for "Golden" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Host Darren Criss, left, presents the award for best dance/electronic album to FKA Twigs for "EUSEXUA" during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Host Darren Criss appears during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Karol G arrives at the Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
This combination of photos show Jack Antonoff, left, Kendrick Lamar, center, and Lady Gaga. (AP Photo)
FILE - Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
