Classic NBA All-Star photos

SI Staff | Feb 24, 2012

Classic NBA All-Star photos /

Classic NBA All-Star photos

Bob Cousy

Bob Cousy drives to the basket during the 1951 NBA All-Star Game. Cousy finished with eight points, eight assists and nine rebounds in the East's 111-94 victory.

Bob Pettit

Pettit of the East is awarded the MVP trophy after finishing with 20 points and 24 rebounds.

Bob Cousy, Bill Russell and Tom Heinsohn

Cousy, Russell and Heinsohn pose with Russell's MVP trophy after the East pulled out a seven-point victory.

Larry Brown, George Mikan and Rick Barry

Brown receives the MVP trophy after the ABA's first All-Star Game. George Mikan (left), the first ABA commissioner, and Rick Barry flank Brown, who finished with 17 points and five assists.

Walt Frazier

Frazier, here with Bill Russell, had 30 points and 11 rebounds to win MVP honors in the East's 108-102 victory.

Julius Erving

Erving goes for a dunk from the free-throw line during the inaugural slam dunk contest during halftime of the ABA All-Star Game in Denver.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson

Abdul-Jabbar and Magic were teammates at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

Larry Nance

Nance goes for a dunk en route to winning the 1984 slam dunk competition.

Dominique Wilkins

In the NBA's second Slam Dunk contest, Wilkins took first place and posed with the trophy while taking a seat on the rim.

Larry Bird

Bird poses with the trophy and the $10,000 check for winning the three-point shootout.

Spud Webb

At 5-foot-7, Webb amazed fans by keeping up with the game's top athletes in winning the 1986 dunk contest.

Three-Point Shootout Contestants

Larry Bird, Detlef Schrempf, Dale Ellis, Danny Ainge, Craig Hodges, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper and Kiki Vandeweghe pose prior to the 1987 contest. Bird captured the second of three straight shootout titles.

Michael Jordan

Jordan goes for a dunk during his winning effort in 1987.

West All-Stars

John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, Dale Ellis, Alex English, James Worthy, Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Pat Riley, Mark Eaton, Kevin Duckworth and Tom Chambers at the 1989 All-Star game.

Dee Brown

Brown had already clinched first the dunk title when he pulled off this no-look dunk.

Three-Point Shootout Contestants

Reggie Miller, Jon Sundvold, Mark Price, Craig Hodges, Larry Bird, Bobby Hansen, Craig Ehlo and Michael Jordan pose prior to the three-point contest. Hodges would go on to win his second of three titles.

Reggie Miller

Miller sets up to shoot during the 1990 three-point contest in Miami.

Isaiah Rider

Rider became the 1994 dunk champion after pulling off this move.

Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning

Ewing, Mutombo and Mourning had a Georgetown reunion at 1995 All-Star weekend in Phoenix.

Tim Legler

Legler celebrates after winning the 1996 three-point contest.

Shawn Kemp

Kemp slams one home during the 1992 contest. Cedric Ceballos won the event.

Latrell Sprewell

Sprewell dunks during the 1997 All-Star Game. He finished with 19 points but the West lost 132-120.

East All-Stars

Anfernee Hardaway, Steve Smith, Dikembe Mutombo, Jason Williams, Reggie Miller, Antoine Walker, Tim Hardaway, Larry Bird (flanked by his assistant coaches), Glen Rice, Shawn Kemp, Michael Jordan, Rik Smits and Grant Hill at the 1998 All-Star festivities in New York.

Vince Carter

Carter puts his elbow through the rim on his way to winning the 2000 dunk contest.

Charles Barkley and Dick Bavetta

NBA referee Dick Bavetta competes against Charles Barkley in a race during All-Star Saturday Night in Las Vegas. Bavetta was no match for Barkley.

Mariah Carey and Michael Jordan

Carey welcomes Jordan to the stage during a halftime celebration of Jordan's career at the 2003 All-Star Game in Atlanta.

Nate Robinson and Dwight Howard

Nate Robinson jumps over Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic on his way to winning the 2009 Slam Dunk contest in Phoenix.

LeBron James

While everyone waited on pins and needles for his free agency decision in July, reigning NBA MVP LeBron James lit up the Dallas stage with 25 points six assists, five rebounds and four steals. His future running mate, Dwyane Wade, topped all scorers with 28 points and 11 assists to win the MVP award in the East's 141-139 victory.

Blake Griffin

Los Angeles had grown accustomed to seeing incredible Blake Griffin dunks but even the hometown fans were left speechless when Griffin jumped over a car and threw down a two-handed slam during the Slam-Dunk contest.

Published Feb 24, 2012

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