10 Greatest Moments in NBA All-Star Game History

There’s lots to love about February, but one of our favorite things about the month is NBA All-Star Game Weekend. It’s a brief time in which we get to collectively watch 24 of the NBA’s luminaries—the best of the best—take to the hardwood, and anything can happen. Here are 10 of our favorite NBA All-Star highlights, in no particular order, throughout the league’s history.

Jumpman in Action

You knew our top All-Star Game moments had to include at least one Michael Jordan moment, right? The 1988 All-Star Game was it. The Eastern Conference roster also included Barkley, Bird and Ewing, while the Western featured Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. His Airness owned the court, snagging his second Dunk Contest mantle and showing off his mad skills.

Memorializing Mamba

The year 2016 gave us The Life of Pablo and Stranger Things, but it also gave us the final All-Star performance of Kobe Bryant. Not only did the Mamba receive the most votes, but the West took a 196-173 victory over the east.

Shoulders of Giants

Did you know that Shaq left the Lakers over a beef with Kobe? Not only did O’Neal and Bryant reunite for the ’09 All-Star Weekend, but they also shared an easier comradery and MVP honors that year.

All Wound Up

Watch a reverse 360 windmill and the ultimate showmanship of Vince Carter, whose stylings and four slam dunks earned him the 2000 Dunk Contest win. His passion and eloquence helped breathe new life into this All-Star Weekend tradition.

Stars & Bars

In his suit and dark glasses, effortlessly cool Marvin Gaye swaggered onto the court before the 1983 NBA All-Star Game. Rather than playing it safe, Gaye belted out a soulful rendition of the national anthem with accompanied drum machine beats. Sadly, the Prince of Soul was killed the following year.

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNydcwDriuU

Half a Century

To celebrate 50 years of existence, the NBA honored the 50 greatest players of all-time at the 1997 All-Star Game. Of the 50, 47 present and former players were there to garner the well-deserved accolades.

Chamberlain on the Court

Wilt Chamberlain was a force with whom to be reckoned. His 1961–1962 season average was more than 50 points per game. And while his All-Star team ultimately didn’t eke out a win, Chamberlain’s record-setting 42 points (and 24 rebounds) went unmatched for more than 50 years.

Bringing Back the Magic

Magic Johnson stunned the world when he announced his HIV diagnosis in 1991, during the AIDS crisis. But Johnson made a huge comeback in his last NBA All-Star Game. He led the Western Conference team to victory while scoring 25 points, nine assists and snagging the MVP title—all while his parents proudly looked on.

Smashing Records

Remember how we mentioned Wilt Chamberlain’s historic All-Star Game feat? The player who broke that record was none other than Anthony Davis. In 2017, the New Orleans Pelicans’ power forward surpassed Chamberlain by scoring 52 points in a game.

The King Gets His Title

It’s hard to remember a time without LeBron James. His third NBA season brought with it not only the MVP title, but at age 21, King James also became the youngest MVP in the game’s history.

The 2022 All-Star Weekend runs from February 18 through the 20th. Brush up on your best NBA All-Star Game knowledge, and grab your NBA gear from Hibbett | City Gear!