Nonetheless, James is making a late case for inclusion on the All-Star team with the way he's playing as of late. He put up 19-9-8 in the Lakers' comeback win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, 115-107, and he's now averaging 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per contest — numbers that are definitely befitting of an All-Star.

In the first All-Star to be played in Inglewood since 1983, one of LA’s biggest star LeBron James’ availability remains uncertain. Fans, media analysts, and fellow players had the voting rights, and none of them voted for the 41-year-old in the top 5.

The debate over who deserves the title of the greatest NBA player of all time often comes down to contrasting careers and styles, and few matchups illustrate that debate better than LeBron James versus Shaquille O’Neal.