NBA All-Star Game is a Star Studded Event

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Dean Hybl

You can always count on LeBron James to put on a show at the All-Star Game.

Professional sports All-Star games are kind of like new pennies. They are too bright and alluring not to pick up, but you quickly realize that they aren’t really worth much.

Of the “big 3” sports, the NBA All-Star Game is probably the best, if only because the rosters are small enough that you have some of the best stars on the court from opening tip to final horn.

In recent years, the NBA has turned the concept of the All-Star Game into a star-studded three-day extravaganza where the actual game can almost be anti-climatic to all the events that precede it.

The idea of special events in advance of the All-Star Game actually dates back to the ABA when Julius Erving dazzled fans with his famous foul line dunk. The NBA created its own dunk contest in 1984 and added a three-point shootout two years later. The weekend now also includes skills and horse competitions, a celebrity game and a game between first and second year NBA players.

By the time the actual All-Stars take to the court on Sunday night, seemingly half the players in the NBA will have participated in one event or another.

Because the game rules seem to prohibit anyone from actually playing defense, the average score of the NBA All-Star Game is generally much higher than what you will see in the regular season. Last year the West won the game 146-119 and the last time that both teams didn’t score at least 110 points was in 1976 when the East won 123-109.

Look for Dirk Nowitzki to rise to the occasion with the game in Dallas.

Last year Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal shared the game MVP award. Though injuries will keep Bryant from repeating his 27 point performance, you can bet that many of the best players will put on a show.

LeBron James has twice been the All-Star MVP and last year scored 20 points in a losing effort.

With the game being played in the new grandiose Dallas Cowboy Stadium, you can expect current Dallas Mavericks stars Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd as well as former Maverick Steve Nash to put on a show.