The date was February 15, 2004, the last time LeBron James didn't play in the NBA's All-Star game, which was ironically being played at the Staples Center in Los Angeles that year. The world was a very different place back then. Shaquille O'Neal won the All-Star game's MVP award and Kevin Garnett was on the way to being named NBA MVP.

Prior to the Los Angeles Lakers (23-18) taking on the Boston Celtics (31-13) on Thursday night, the NBA and the "Inside the NBA” crew, consisting of Ernie

James — a pick for 21 straight years — now has two more All-Star selections than anyone else in NBA history (Abdul-Jabbar was a 19-time pick) and is three years clear of anyone else for the longest streak of consecutive selections. Kobe Bryant was picked for 18 consecutive All-Star Games, the second-longest such streak.