LeBron James has been selected to the All-NBA First Team 13 times, the most in NBA history. The honor recognizes the league's top players at the end of each regular season, based on voting by a national media panel.
James first made the First Team in 2006, during his third NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He then established an extraordinary run of 11 consecutive First Team selections from 2008 through 2018, spanning his time with Cleveland and the Miami Heat. His 13th selection came in 2020, after his second season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
This record is separate from his total All-NBA selections. James has earned 21 All-NBA honors overall, including four Second Team and four Third Team selections. Confusing those totals is the most common mistake in this question.
The award also differs from All-Star selection, which is based on regular-season recognition and does not place players into First, Second, or Third Teams. James's 13 First Team honors demonstrate both longevity and sustained excellence across three franchises: Cleveland, Miami, and Los Angeles.