Memorable NBA All-Star Moments

SI Staff | Feb 5, 2013

Memorable NBA All-Star Moments /

Memorable NBA All-Star Moments

2011 NBA All-Star Game

Playing in front of his home crowd at Staples Center, Kobe Bryant won his fourth All-Star MVP, pouring in a game-high 37 points along with 14 rebounds in the West's 148-143 victory. With the award, Bryant tied Bob Pettit for the most All-Star Game MVP awards all-time.

2008 NBA All-Star Game

After blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth, the Eastern Conference managed to pull out a 134-128 win, thanks primarily to the sharphooting of Ray Allen and the near-triple-double (27 points, nine assists, eight rebounds) from LeBron James. The then-Cavs' forward received the second All-Star Game MVP award of his career, even though Allen led all scorers with 28 points.

2006 NBA All-Star Game

Eastern Conference and Pistons head coach Flip Saunders rode his four Detroit players to victory as the East shut down the West in the second half, limiting the squad to just 50 points after halftime in the 122-120 East victory. LeBron James became the youngest All-Star Game MVP when the 21-year-old scored 29 points and grabbed six rebounds.

2003 NBA All-Star Game

In the final All-Star Game of his legendary career, Michael Jordan seemed destined for an MVP award. Jordan, who started the game when Vince Carter gave up his starting spot, hit a baseline jumper with 4.8 second remaining in overtime to put the East up 138-136. Jermaine O'Neal ruined the fitting ending however, fouling Kobe Bryant on a three-pointer with one second left. When Bryant hit two of his three free throws, the game went to a second overtime for the first time in All-Star history. Kevin Garnett hit three jumpers in the post in the second bonus period and claimed the MVP honors as the West won 155-145.

2001 NBA All-Star Game

The East trailed 95-74 with nine minutes remaining. Then Allen Iverson turned it on. The 76ers guard scored 15 of his 25 points in those final nine minutes to spark a ferocious comeback. Stephon Marbury capped the climb with two three-pointers in the final 53 seconds, including the game-winner with 28 seconds remaining. The East won the game 111-110, and Iverson earned the first of his two All-Star Game MVP awards.

1998 NBA All-Star Game

In his third and final All-Star Game MVP performance, Michael Jordan put on a show, scoring 23 points while collecting eight assists, six rebounds and three steals. Jordan orchestrated a 20-1 run in the fourth quarter to put the Western Conference away in a 135-114 victory. He would retire for the second time after the season. The 1998 All-Star Game also marked the All-Star debut of Kobe Bryant, who became the youngest All-Star in NBA history at just 19 years old.

1992 NBA All-Star Game

A blowout 153-113 win for the West was made memorable by the return of Magic Johnson. The Lakers star retired before the 1991-92 season after testing positive for HIV. When the fans voted him as an All-Star starter anyway, Johnson returned to the court only to lead all players with 25 points and nine assists. When Johnson hit a three-pointer with less than 15 seconds to play, he was mobbed by players from both teams, leading to the game ending early. "It was the first game ever called on account of hugs," Johnson said. He was named All-Star Game MVP for the second time in his career.

1985 NBA All-Star Game

Upset by the incredible attention heaped on Bulls rookie Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas and several other veteran players created a freeze-out on Jordan, refusing to pass him the ball throughout the game. The strategy limited Jordan, who would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors, to just seven points as the West coasted to a 140-129 victory. Thomas denied ever organizing a concerted effort to keep the ball from Jordan.

1984 NBA-All Star Game

In a game filled with star performances, Isiah Thomas' stood alone. The Detroit Pistons point guard scored 21 points -- all in the second half or overtime -- while adding a team-high 15 assists as the East overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to prevail 154-145. It was stiff competition for the MVP award as Magic Johnson dished out an All-Star Game-record 22 assists to go along with 15 points and Julius Erving dropped a game-high 34 points.

1977 NBA All-Star Game

The first All-Star Game since the NBA's merger with the ABA featured an influx of talent -- nine players in total -- from the league with the red, white and blue ball and the three-point line. Julius Erving, the three-time MVP of the ABA, led the group of new NBA stars with 30 points and 12 rebounds. He was named All-Star Game MVP in his Eastern Conference team's 125-124 loss to the West.

1964 NBA All-Star Game

The game itself was far less significant than the pregame drama in 1964. The players, stymied in their attempts to negotiate a pension plan and to get the NBA to recognize the players' union, threatened to strike just hours before the game. When several owners tried to intimidate their players into playing the game, the players sequestered themselves in a Boston Garden locker room. Luckily for the players, the All-Star Game was set to be televised for the first time, so when ABC threatened to yank the broadcast 15 minutes before tip-off, commissioner Walter Kennedy gave in to the players' requests. It was the first major victory for the union.

1958 NBA All-Star Game

Dolph Schayes and Paul Arizin may have led the Eastern Conference to victory in the 8th NBA All-Star Game, but it was Bob Pettit of the Western Conference who stole the show. Pettit scored 28 points and grabbed 26 rebounds going up against the legendary Bill Russell despite playing with a cast on his left wrist. The extraordinary performance earned Pettit MVP honors even though his Western Conference team lost 130-118.

Published Feb 5, 2013

SI STAFF