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BOSTON - MAY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles up court against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2010 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics won 97-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

LeBron James will play in his 17th NBA All-Star Game this year. The 36-year-old star remembered his first All-Star Weekend 18 years ago during his rookie year. While he did not make it to the All-Star Game that season, he took part in the Rookie Challenge.

“It was incredible,” James said. “First of all, I’m a kid from Akron, Ohio and I was in Los Angeles for my first All-Star Game. That was an incredible moment for myself, for my family to be here.

Obviously, I wanted to be in the All-Star Game. Still kind of irks me a little bit. But I got over it. It’s just being here and being around Melo [Carmelo Anthony] and D-Wade [Dwyane Wade] and the rest of the guys.

“Just being part of the festivities something I watched my whole life. I was like ‘Wow, how great it’d be to be a part of All-Star Weekend.’ For it to be my rookie year and for me to be in the Rookie Challenge it is something that I’ll probably never forget. I got an opportunity to wear some dope shoes that night too, the Zoom Generation 1 Wheats. That’s one of my favorite sneakers of all time. I was just hyped. It’s a long time ago.”

The game took place at Staples Center, the current home court of LeBron. He was a member of the Rookies team which lost to the Sophomores 118-142. James was the top scorer for the Rookies with 33 points.