Here’s a look at the NBA All-Star Game. The All-Star Game caps off All-Star Weekend. All-Star Weekend includes the Slam Dunk contest, the Three Point Shootout and the Rookie Challenge.
February 18, 2018 – The 67th NBA All-Star Game is scheduled to take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
February 19, 2017 – The 66th NBA All-Star Game takes place in New Orleans. The Western Conference defeats the Eastern Conference, 192-182.
The Eastern Conference has won 37 All-Star Games, and the Western Conference has won 29.
2017:
Eastern Conference Roster:
Head Coach: Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics)
Starters:
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) – Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) – Forward
Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls) – Forward
DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors) – Guard
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers) – Guard
Western Conference Roster:
Head Coach: Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors)
Starters:
Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans) – Forward
Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors) – Forward
Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs) – Forward
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) – Guard
James Harden (Houston Rockets) – Guard
History:
March 2, 1951 – The first All-Star Game takes place at the Boston Garden. The East wins 111-94. Ed Macauley is named the MVP.
1976 – The Slam Dunk Contest debuts during halftime of the All-Star Game, laying the foundation for the modern-day All-Star Weekend. Julius Erving is named the winner.
1977 – The first All-Star Game played after the merger of the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association. The East wins 125-124. Julius Erving is named MVP.
1992 – Months after announcing that he is HIV positive and despite not playing all season, Earvin “Magic” Johnson is voted into the All-Star Game. He is also named MVP.
February 26, 2012 – Kobe Bryant surpasses Michael Jordan (262 points) to become the All-Star career scoring leader (271 points).
July 22, 2016 – The NBA announces that they are moving the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, North Carolina, because of state legislation passed in March which limits anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people and demands that transgender people use the bathroom according to the gender on their birth certificate.
May 24, 2017 – The NBA announces the 2019 All-Star Game will be played in Charlotte, citing the partial repeal of the so-called bathroom bill as the reason for the change.
October 3, 2017 – The NBA issues a release announcing a format change for the 2018 All-Star Game. They’re dispensing with the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference matchup. Instead, two captains will draft teams from an open pool of players. Conference affiliation will no longer be a factor in the selection of athletes for each team.
Selection Process:
Fans around the world vote for the starters for each team.
The 30 head coaches vote for the remaining members of the All-Star teams in their respective conferences. Coaches must vote for seven players in order of preference but are not allowed to vote for players from their team. The selections must include two guards, two forwards and a center. Two other players are chosen regardless of position.
If any player cannot participate in the All-Star Game, the NBA Commissioner will select a replacement after the coaches select reserves.
Head coaches for the East and West All-Star teams are based on the teams with the best winning percentage in each conference following the Sunday games played two weeks prior to the NBA All-Star Game.