My All Time Favorite All Star Moments.

Around Mid February every year  something really beautiful occurs. Its a time of year where people from all over come together to celebrate love. No not their love for one another (although that happens too, Happy Valentine's Day) but the love for the game of basketball. For over 20 years I have spent the upcoming weekend glued to the TV for the entire weekend. I LOVE NBA ALL STAR WEEKEND. Even when they removed the dunk contest (worst idea ever!!!), I remained loyal to the weekend festivities. Unlike many who continue to find flaws with the format, I embrace. Not everything can remain the way it was in 1991, although I wouldn't upset if they brought back the Old Timers game.

I decided to get this All Star Weekend started with a nod to my favorite moments. I would've filled this list with a combination of moments from LeBron James and Michael Jordan, but I decided not to let my mega fandom interrupt my objective. Hope you enjoy it and enjoy the weekend ahead. Oh and if you didn't do your due diligence by appeasing that significant other, prior to the weekends events; SHAME ON YOU!!!

                    *******BONUS NON GAME OR COMPETITION MOMENT********

In 1996 the NBA revealed its then top 50 players of all time. This to me is one of the most important moments in sports history. It's the only time that Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlin, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas and countless others were all in the same place at the same time. It put in perspective that while we as fans constantly rank our favorite players against one another, there is room at the top for all of them.


10. 1991 SLAM DUNK CONTEST: My first great memory of watching any portion of NBA All Star weekend came in 1991. That was the year Dee Brown won the slam dunk contest while wearing Reebok Pumps. Like ever other kid watching that year, I knew that I needed a pair so that I could fly through the air with my arm over my eyes. I wanted a slick hightop fade and cheering section that included Magic Johnson, Dominique Wilkins and a young Will Smith.




9. 1994 SLAM DUNK CONTEST: While the year before introduced pop culture to Harold "Baby Jordan" Miner, I was more enamored with Isaiah Rider. Rider pulled off a dunk so cool and innovative that no before him could claim to have pulled it off. The East Bay Funk Dunk.

8. 1992 NBA ALL STAR GAME: This was an iconic game, with iconic stars. Jordan, Thomas, Bird, Worthy, Robinson, Olajuwon, Drexler. All of those stars were huge, but none were bigger than Magic Johnson in that moment, nor that year. This was months after informing the world he had contracted HIV and would have to retire immediately. Magic was so nice that even the assumed death sentence couldn't keep him from capturing All Star MVP honors, while leading the west to a massive blowout 153-113.





7. 2004 ROOKIE/SOPHOMORE GAME: This was the first time LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were all on the same team (Precursor to the Redeem Team). The game also featured Yao Ming, Amar'e Stoudemire and Manu Ginobili. This was about as entertaining a game as the All Star Game that year. LeBron dazzled with an off the glass alley-oop to himself past Yao Ming, then as he trotted back up the court he through up the ROC! Classic.

6. 2003 NBA ALL STAR GAME: Michael Jordan had long been considered the greatest player of all time. It was only fitting that he be allowed to go out on top, the way a king should; or so he thought. While Jordan was able to force OT with his ICONIC fadeaway jumper over Shawn Marion in the clutch, it was Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant that had the last laugh. It was an outstanding goodbye to the All Star of All Stars.






5. 2002/2003/2004 SLAM DUNK CONTEST: In 2002 Jason Richardson took home the Dunk Contest crown. He brought back the memory of Dominique, while using a new school flare. In 2003 he left little doubt that he was the reigning king. Its not often people can say they have done something that has never been seen before, but Richardson was able to do just that. His off the bounce between the legs jackknife was insane. In 2004 he was robbed after completing an off the glass between the legs dunk, but he left us all with new bar for the dunk contest. A bar that has not been reached since.

4. 2001 NBA ALL STAR GAME: This game had the makings of a blowout. It was a game that seemed to get out of hand rather quickly. A game that seemed like it was in the bag with 9 minutes left became really interesting, really fast. Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury (from that mythical class of 1996) spearheaded a massive comeback to win by 1. Iverson scored 15 points in the final 9 minutes of the game, while Marbury hit 2 big 3 pointers to put the game away. Classic comeback, in classic fashion.





3. 2006 NBA ALL STAR GAME: By 2006 LeBron James had cemented himself as one of the top 5 players in the NBA. The All Star game appeared to be the perfect stage for a young man of his many talents. Talents that he did not mind displaying, while leading his East team to a victory. James finished with 29 points becoming the youngest All Star MVP ever.




2. 2000 SLAM DUNK CONTEST: It had been 2 years since the last dunk contest and the league was desperate for redemption in the post lockout era. Lucky for them an infusion of talent had just invaded the league led by Vince Carter. Carter was joined by his teammate/cousin the slender Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis. They put on a show that at the time could only be rivaled by the days of Jordan for Wilkins. This still stands as one of the top moments in NBA history.

1.1998 NBA ALL STAR GAME: To me in my life time this is the best All Star game. This game featured several future and current hall of famers including a young Kobe Bryant and rookie Tim Duncan. It was held in the basketball Mecca, Madison Square Garden. The game featured Shaq, Gary Payton, Reggic Miller, Grant Hill, Shawn Kemp, Penny Hardaway, Tim Hardaway, David Robinson, Jason Kidd, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone and of course Michael Jordan. Jordan dropped his jersey number in points (23) and captured MVP honors.

The Draft Fanatic.