Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has been named to the 2018-19 All-NBA Third team after averaging 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists.
James received zero first team points, 13 second team points, and 72 third team points for 111 total points as voted by members of the media.
This 15th selection ties James with former Lakers legends Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar along with San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan for the most in NBA history. However, it ends his 11-year First team streak.
Despite the 34-year-old averaging his near triple-double, he suffered the worst injury of his career after signing a four-year, $154 million deal with the Lakers.
Limited to a career-low 55 games, James and the Lakers were in fourth place in the Western Conference standings after their Christmas Day win over the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, James suffered a groin strain in the third quarter that would ultimately derail Year 1 in Los Angeles.
As James was forced to miss 17 consecutive games, the Lakers were somehow still in the playoff picture when he returned against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 31. While the Lakers were making one final playoff push after the 2019 NBA All-Star break, James was not completely healthy.
Shortly after the Lakers were officially eliminated from playoff contention by D’Angelo Russell and the Brooklyn Nets on March 22, James was eventually shut down for the final six games of the 2018-19 NBA season.
After eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances in the Eastern Conference, James completely missed the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since the 2004-05 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With an extended offseason, James has an opportunity to refresh his mind and body. While the Lakers have had a drama-filled start to their offseason, James reportedly wants to be with them and win in Los Angeles.
As James is still one of the best players in the league today, the hope is the Lakers will successfully land a second All-Star player alongside him.
Armed with the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and ample cap space in free agency, James will certainly be motivated for Year 2 in Los Angeles.
