LeBron James Facing NBA Disqualification for First Time in 21 Years

LeBron James could be disqualified from the post-season awards this year for the first time in more than two decades.

For decades, basketball fans have debated who the greatest player ever to play in the NBA is, with several names all possible options for the title.

Four-time NBA champion James, who is the highest-scorer in the history of the league, is the first name to come to mind for a lot of fans, especially given the fact he is still playing and breaking records.

In the ongoing 2025/26 regular season, James has scored an average of 21.7 points per game, just slightly below his career-average of 26.9 PPG over 23 seasons.

But despite playing well this season, James is dangerously close to being disqualified from the post-season awards at the end of the current campaign for the first time in 21 years.

Although James has played well when he has been available this season, it's safe to say that 2025/26 has been the most challenging of his legendary career.

At the start of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers star was forced to sit out the first 14 games due to an injury that impacted his lower back and legs.

Since his return from the injury in November, the 41-year-old is yet to play in back-to-back fixtures, with left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica forcing him to miss Wednesday's 107-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Because of his irregular appearances throughout the campaign, James is at risk of being ineligible for postseason awards, including the All-NBA or All-Star teams.

If he misses out on just one more match before the end of the season in April, he will no longer be available for selection for any of the awards.

That is because The NBA requires a minimum of 65 games in the regular season to be eligible for the award.

LeBron James looks likely to miss out on the end of season awards. (Image: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Despite sitting out of last year's All-Star game, James has been named in the team and the All-Stars for 21 consecutive seasons.

The only time that he wasn't picked in either the All-NBA or All-Star team was in his rookie year in 2003-04.

However, it's looking almost certain that 2025/26 season will put an end to his impressive streak of being in the team, with James himself admitting it's looking unlikely that he can play every game for the rest of the season.

"Every back-to-back, for the rest of the season, is TBD," James said.

"I am 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history. Bank [that answer] right now."