India, Feb. 17 -- Basketball icon LeBron James has withdrawn from the NBA All-Star Game scheduled for Sunday due to discomfort in his left foot and ankle. This marks the first occasion in his career that he has missed this event. He also sat out the Los Angeles Lakers' recent victory against the Indiana Pacers due to the same injury.

Regarding his condition, he expressed, "I was hoping it would feel a lot better this morning, but it was not where I wanted it to be."

"With 30 games remaining and our team striving for a playoff position in the highly competitive Western Conference, I felt it was crucial to prioritize my health and prepare for what lies ahead," he further stated.

The announcement of his withdrawal came just two hours prior to the game, and no replacement was named. Throughout the current season, the 40-year-old has averaged 24.3 points with a shooting percentage of 51.6, alongside 9.0 assists and 7.7 rebounds, participating in 47 of the 52 games played by his team.

LeBron's decision has drawn criticism from former NBA player and analyst Kendrick Perkins, who expressed his disappointment. On social media platform X, he noted that had LeBron communicated his situation earlier, a player like Norman Powell could have had the opportunity to participate in his first All-Star game.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, LeBron is frequently compared to Michael Jordan. He has secured four NBA championships from ten Finals appearances and made eight consecutive Finals appearances from 2011 to 2018. Additionally, he has earned three Olympic gold medals and was named the Olympics MVP at the Paris 2024 Games.

LeBron holds the record as the NBA's all-time leading scorer and ranks fourth in career assists and sixth in steals. His accolades include four NBA MVP awards, four NBA Finals MVPs, NBA Rookie of the Year, and three NBA All-Star Game MVPs. He has also been selected as an NBA All-Star a record 21 times.

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