NBA ALL-STAR GAME EXPERIENCE:
Official Name: National Basketball Association All-Star Game
First Game Season: 1951
First Game Venue: Boston Garden
First Game Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Notable MVPs: Bob Pettit, Oscar Robertson, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal
See Also: All-Star Game tickets
The NBA All-Star Game is a game held annually between the top players in the Western and Eastern Conferences of the National Basketball Association. The game is part of All-Star Weekend, held every February, which includes other exhibition activities such as the Rookie Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest, and Three-Point Shootout. The first NBA All-Star Game was held in 1951 in Boston, Massachusetts. The game gives fans the chance to see the best players in the NBA play together in a more relaxed atmosphere. The game is a celebration of basketball and sportsmanship and a real treat for any NBA fan.
Players for the NBA All-Star Game are selected in two different ways. NBA fans choose the starters, and the reserves are chosen by coaches, though the coaches cannot vote for their own players. The All-Star teams are coached by the coaches from each conference with the best record through the second week in February. Coaches, however, cannot coach two years in a row anymore. This is known as the “Riley Rule” - because of Pat Riley’s success with the Lakers in the 1980’s, he coached the Western Conference All-Star team nearly every year. The coach with the next best record is selected in this case to coach the team.
The location of the NBA All-Star Game and All-Star Weekend changes each year, rotating throughout the NBA, with one game also played in Las Vegas. This lets fans see a new NBA home arena each year and visit a new city to watch their basketball heroes compete. Buy NBA All-Star Game tickets today and don’t miss this clash of titans!