LeBron James’ decision to skip the NBA All-Star Game will disappoint both Lakers and basketball fans. He announced his choice just hours before the event, but it’s hard to blame him for not participating in a game that doesn’t affect the standings. While Lakers fans might be upset, and basketball enthusiasts may feel let down, it’s clear that LeBron doesn’t care, and honestly, he shouldn’t have to.

As one of the NBA’s top players, LeBron is undoubtedly the league’s biggest attraction. Although revealing his decision so close to tip-off is less than ideal, the reality is that James doesn’t owe anything to the NBA. A quick check confirms this.

Having LeBron play would not have benefited the league, especially as the All-Star Game is in decline. While not yet as irrelevant as the Pro Bowl, the game is often a high-scoring, meaningless spectacle. Expect a final score of 200-190, as is the norm for these events.

LeBron James skipping the All-Star Game is understandable, and his reasoning reveals just how far the event has fallen. Ideally, James would play through his minor ankle injury, but when we acknowledge that the NBA All-Star Game is essentially the Pro Bowl of basketball, it’s clear why he’d skip it. There’s still half a season left to play, and the Lakers are in the thick of the postseason race.

James, at 40 years old, remains a crucial player for the fifth-seeded Lakers. If he’s dealing with a real injury — which we can only hope is the case — skipping the All-Star Game makes perfect sense.

Basketball fans are growing tired of stars treating All-Star Weekend as a joke. The three-point contest, slam dunk contest, and skills competitions have all lost their appeal, especially with a G League player winning the dunk contest for the third consecutive year.

So, why should the All-Star Game be any different? While it would be ideal for James to play, the nature of the midseason All-Star Game makes this outcome predictable. Fans can only hope James will still be featured prominently, despite hIs absence.