James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was voted an All-Star starter for the 20th consecutive year, a streak that began in 2005, his second NBA season.
The 39-year-old US playmaker, a four-time NBA champion, surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, another Lakers star, for the most All-Star appearances.
The NBA All-Star Game will take place on February 18 in Indianapolis between the Eastern and Western Conference’s top teams.
James, the West’s leading scorer, will captain the team and join a starting lineup that includes Phoenix’s Kevin Durant and Serbian center Nikola Jokic, a two-time MVP for the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
The West guards included Dallas’ Slovenian Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City’s Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has been named captain of the East, which also features Cameroon’s reigning NBA MVP and best scorer this season, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston’s Jayson Tatum.
“You never want to take it for granted,” Tatum explained. “For the fans to continuously vote for me is a true honor. I grew up wanting to go to All-Star Weekend every year, and being able to experience that dream in real life is quite great. I’m quite appreciative.
The East guards featured Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, the NBA assists leader, and Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard, who was dealt from Portland to the Bucks earlier this season and is making his ninth All-Star appearance.
The fan vote to pick starters finished last Saturday. Fan votes were weighted 50%, with a media panel and NBA players each receiving 25%.
The All-Star Game returns to an East vs West format after several years in which two top vote-getters were selected captains and lineups were drafted from among other top vote-getters.
The reserves for both teams will be unveiled next Thursday, with all 30 NBA coaches choosing two guards, three frontcourt players, and two others at any position from their respective conferences.
If a player is unable to play in the All-Star Game, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select a substitute from the same conference.
