2018 NBA ALL-STAR by HOOP

LOS ANGELES’ STORIED BASKETBALL HISTORY ALL-STAR 1988 SKY HIGH CHI ALL-STAR 1993 STOCKTON AND MALONE PLAYED SWEET MUSIC IN UTAH KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR PASSING THE ACTIVISM TORCH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S RICH BASKETBALL TRADITIONS

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#NBAVoices

A Letter From the Commissioner

Dear Fans, On behalf of the entire NBA family, thank you for joining us as we celebrate NBA All-Star 2018 in Los Angeles. This city is the stage for some of the world’s biggest events – and this week, it is the epicenter of basketball. This is our record sixth All-Star in Los Angeles, marking the 55th anniversary of the first midseason classic in the city, which featured the first All-Star matchup between legends Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Moments before the 1983 All-Star Game at the Forum, legendary R&B singer Marvin Gaye performed what is considered one of the greatest renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner in sports history. This year’s All-Star Game will feature a new format that had leading vote-getters – LeBron James and Stephen Curry – selecting their teammates for Sunday’s matchup. World-renowned performers are headlining our entertainment – from comedy superstar Kevin Hart to Grammy Award winners Pharrell Williams and Fergie, along with other surprise guests. In addition to the All-Stars and other current NBA players in town, more than 150 former NBA players and legends are participating in various events throughout the area. This includes our annual NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service, where members of the NBA family helped build playgrounds and package food donations for families in need; Jr. NBA basketball clinics for young boys and girls; and community conversations between young people and law enforcement across Compton, Commerce and Culver City. These events are part of our ongoing efforts to use the game of basketball to bring people together and amplify the voices of local leaders to build bridges in the community. All-Star is our marquee event and a global celebration of the game we all love. Thank you for being part of it and a special thanks to the LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and basketball fans across the city for welcoming us back to Southern California. I hope you enjoy this weekend’s festivities.

JENNIFER POTTHEISER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Sincerely,

NBA All-Star 2018 | 3

AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL RETAILER

CONTENTS Editor in Chief Ming Wong Design Director Kengyong Shao Associate Editors Phil D’Apolito, Dan Holzhauer,

NBA All-Star 2018 Commemorative Program February 16-18, 2018

Features 18 Los Angeles Basketball Timeline

Adam Kaufman, John Martin

Los Angeles might not have as deep a history as a New York or Boston, but what it might lack in time, it has made up for in glory. Ever since the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Southern California, the championship banners have regularly been added to their rafters. Couple that with the arrival of the Clippers in the ‘80s, and you have a city steeped in basketball tradition.

Copy Editor Trevor Kearney

33 L.A. All-Star Flashback: 1963

Contributing Writers Michael Bradley, Jon Cooper,

The first All-Star experience for Los Angeles was bittersweet for the home fans. On one hand, they got to play host to the League’s midseason extravaganza for the first time, but on the other, they had to see their soon-to-be-bitter rival Boston Celtics steal the show.

John Fawaz, Darryl Howerton, Jeramie McPeek

36 Pitch Perfect All-Star 1993 in Salt Lake City worked out perfectly. With the picturesque Wasatch Mountains serving as backdrop, a high flying dunker nicknamed “Baby Jordan” fittingly took the dunk title, sharpshooting Mark Price won the Three-Point Contest, and the home crowd favorites John Stockton and Karl Malone shared All-Star MVP honors.

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NBA Publishing/NBA Photos President and Executive Producer, Content Danny Meiseles Senior VP Content, Production Paul Hirschheimer Senior VP, Entertainment & Player Marketing Charlie Rosenzweig Executive VP, Communications Mike Bass VP, Editorial & Daily Content John Hareas President, Global Operations and Merchandising Sal LaRocca Sr. Vice President, Global Partnerships Matt Holt Coordinator, Global Partnerships Daniel Lupin Coordinator, Global Partnerships Harley Opolinsky Manager, Global Media Programs Felecia Groomster Senior Official NBAE Photographers Andrew D. Bernstein, Nathaniel S. Butler Vice President, NBA Photos Joe Amati Director, Photos Imaging David Bonilla Official NBAE Photographer Jesse D. Garrabrant Senior Photo Editor Brian Choi Senior Photo Coordinator Kevin Wright All NBA photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of NBA Entertainment. All WNBA photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of WNBA Enterprises. All G League photos appearing in this magazine, unless otherwise indicated, are copyright of G League Enterprises. The NBA All-Star Program is published annually, by PSP. © 2018 Professional Sports Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of publisher is prohibited. PRINTED IN THE USA

46 L.A. All-Star Flashback: 1972 The second time All-Star found its way to Los Angeles left a much better taste for Angelenos. This time around the West took care of business, as Jerry West led the way to an MVP performance.

48 Blustery Arrival Michael Jordan didn’t exactly need an introduction heading into All-Star 1988. He was, after all, playing in his home city of Chicago and coming off a season where he averaged 37 points per game. Still, Jordan managed to up his wattage with an electrifying Slam Dunk Contest and shining the brightest at the All-Star Game.

58 L.A. All-Star Flashback: 1983 The Lakers were beginning their decade-long run of “Showtime” when NBA picked Los Angeles for the third time to host All-Star. In spite of the charismatic duo of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird getting all the attention, it would be a sagacious Dr. J who would swoop onto center stage.

60 We Before Me Longtime Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the greatest scorer in NBA history, but has always dedicated himself to helping others before himself. Abdul-Jabbar has championed many social causes—earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the process—throughout his lifetime and is challenging the players following in his footsteps to do the same.

68 L.A. All-Star Flashback: 2004 Coincidence or not, every time All-Star finds its way back to Los Angeles, it seems like the Lakers are in the midst of a championship run. This time it would be the Shaq-and-Kobe Lakers that kicked off the century with a threepeat. O’Neal was the most dominant force in the League and he made sure to flex at All-Star.

70 Greetings From Southern California While it may be known as a basketball hotbed now, Southern California wasn’t always known to produce hoop talent. We look back at what transformed the region—from the arrival of NBA basketball in 1960 to the glitz and glamour of the Showtime Lakers, led by Magic Johnson—into the basketball haven it is now.

58 L.A. All-Star Flashback: 2011 The last time Los Angeles hosted All-Star, the city was at the height of its basketball powers. The Lakers were coming off two Kobe Bryant-led titles and the intra-city rival Clippers were on the come-up, thanks to rookie sensation Blake Griffin. So it was only fitting that the two L.A. stars would be the focus of attention that weekend.

Rules & Rosters

84 Team LeBron 112 Team LeBron Coaches 114 Team Stephen 138 Team Stephen Coaches 140 All-Star Scorecard 142 Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars 162 JBL Three-Point Contest 174 Taco Bell Skills Challenge 178 Verizon Slam Dunk 182 Rules and Referees 192 All-Time All-Star Results and Roster

Departments

3 Commissioner’s Letter 6 NBA Digital 8 G League 10 NBA Cares 12 Jr. NBA 14 NBRPA 190 All-Star Goods

NBA All-Star 2018 | 5

NBA Digital

By Jeramie McPeek

EXPANDING THE ROSTER

TNT and NBA TV are adding more players to Players Only.

Players Only is the only show for the fans, by the players. Left to right: Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Isiah Thomas and Baron Davis.

ho says sequels are never as good as the original? NBA TV’s Players Only series, which features retired NBA greats in all broadcast roles, is back for a second season—this time on TNT and is bigger and better than ever. Especially bigger. The unique format for the network’s Tuesday night franchise returned in late January with a couple new additions to the roster made up of NBA alumni in front of the camera. Two-time NBA AllStar Caron Butler joined the team as an on-site reporter, while Shaquille O’Neal has expanded his role beyond the Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA program to add the Players Only studio show. The retired 7-1 center and his four NBA Championship rings joins Hall-of-Fame point guard Isiah Thomas, five-time AllStar forward Chris Webber and two-time All-Star guard Baron Davis on the starstudded studio cast each Tuesday to tip-off the NBA doubleheader during the Players Only Pregame Show presented by Autotrader. The quartet returns throughout the night with their expert analysis for the Players Only American Express Halftime Report and Players Only Postgame presented by Kia.

6 | NBA All-Star 2018

For NBA All-Star 2018, it’ll be a homecoming for Shaq, who won three championships, three Finals MVPs and a season MVP as a member of the Lakers. On Saturday night during All-Star, O’Neal will be joined by none other than his former teammate Kobe Bryant, whom he won those championships with, for Players Only. The pairing will be sure to stir up old emotions much like the Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas conversation on Players Only. Kevin McHale and Larry Bird will do the same on Monday. The Players Only lineup also boasts former NBA guards Greg Anthony and Brent Barry in play-by-play roles, Hall-ofFame forward Kevin McHale, seven-time All-Star forward Grant Hill, and guards Richard “Rip” Hamilton and Derek Fisher, all serving as courtside analysts. The weekly, live-game series is unique not only for its on-air personalities, but for the more conversational tone they bring to the Turner Sports programming, which also includes former NBA sharpshooter “3D” Dennis Scott suiting up to play the reporter position. In fact, the Players Only broadcast team will bring their unique perspective to Saturday night’s festivities with Barry,

Webber and Scott joined by Kenny Smith and Reggie Miller for the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, JBL Three-Point Contest and Verizon Slam Dunk. The Empire Strikes Back of the Players Only series also features special segments from Kevin Garnett’s Area 21 program, a casual, roundtable, leather-chairs discussion that often spills over to the in-studio court. KG brings an impressive résumé of his own to the squad with 15 All-Star appearances, an MVP (2004) and NBA Championship (2008), not to mention a unique charm and straight-shooting, unapologetic style, as he “chops it up” with his fellow NBA retirees and friends across the sports world. “I’m telling tales of the tale here,” explained Garnett, as he broke down the Clippers’ trade of Blake Griffin to Detroit recently and talked about more possible moves at the upcoming trade deadline. Area 21 is weaved into the Players Only studio show and Tuesday night game coverage on TNT, including exclusive content from Facebook, airing during the third quarter.

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NBA G League

By Jon Cooper

A TWO-WAY STREET

Two-Way players are making their mark in the NBA G League and the NBA.

8 | NBA All-Star 2018

of being innovative and thinking differently and giving different guys opportunities. I think it’s been great.” Given a crack, several two-ways already have kicked in the door and cashed in. Forward Tyler Cavanaugh turned a two-way contract with Atlanta/Erie into a two-year NBA deal with the Hawks. “It was a no-brainer. So it worked out great and I’m still here,” Tyler Cavanaugh (#34) and C.J. Williams (#9) have benefited from the two-way said the 24-year-old contracts that give them the opportunity to prove themselves to NBA teams. 2016 NIT M.O.P. at “I’ve got over 20 years of work that I’ve put George Washington, into this game. You have to just learn to be who signed with the Hawks on Sept. 6, was confident in yourself and trust yourself. You waived, re-signed by Atlanta as a two-way don’t approach either game differently. You on Nov. 5, then played well enough to sign have to approach each game as wanting to a two-year contract on Dec. 18. “My situation win and wanting to compete at a high level. If was very unique because I played one game you do that I believe you’ll be prepared for any in the NBA G League, the first game, and I’ve situation that you’re thrown into.” been up ever since. It’s been a blessing. The The opportunity to advance and write their NBA’s always been my dream. It hasn’t really own NBA G League-to-NBA story, like those hit me yet how everything worked so fast and of Cavanaugh, has created even greater how crazy it really was going from G League incentive throughout the NBA G League. two-way to now on the roster.” “Absolutely. That’s the beauty of these Cavanaugh is not alone. Point guard Mike two-way contracts,” said Magette. “To see James was the first two-way player to have Tyler and other guys get converted, that’s his contract converted by the Phoenix Suns what it’s all about.” (he has since been waived). He won’t be Cavanaugh is proud to be that the last—not with the quality in the NBA G kind of role model. League, where you have NCAA Champions “I hope I can be an inspiration to those (Ryan Arcidiacono), NBA G League Rookies guys because it’s all about the opportunity of the Year (Quinn Cook), Impact Players of and having a little bit of luck or fortunate the Year (John Holland), and so many highcircumstances because everyone in the G quality young talents. League can play,” he said. “All those guys, if But the journey certainly isn’t as easy as they’re given the opportunity, can do what I Cavanaugh made it look. did. You’ve got to be yourself. Play your game. For example, Williams, who first signed with That’s what got you here. But you have to be the Clippers Sept. 27, then had his contract ready and stay ready and take advantage of converted to two-way on Oct. 14, made 32 opportunities, whether you’re going to get one trips back and forth between L.A. and Agua minute, two minutes, three minutes, 10 seconds, Caliente between Nov. 9 and Jan. 12, 22 times you never know.” changing leagues on back-to-back days “You can’t change your mindset as far as your ability. You have to trust your own ability, trust the work you’ve put in for years,” he said.

JACK ARENT; JUAN OCAMPO/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

heNBA G League is all about creating opportunity and players taking advantage of it. Leave it to the NBA and the NBA G League—a partnership famous for innovation— to provide yet another one with creation of the role of two-way player. Here’s how it works: Every NBA team can sign two players with three-or-fewer years of NBA experience to a one- or two-year deal. He can spend up to 45 days on the NBA level. The rest of the season they’ll play in the NBA G League. Two-ways are paid according to the amount of time in the NBA and can earn a maximum of $275,000 if they reach the 45-day mark and are signed to an NBA contract—the NBA team must have a roster opening—and a minimum of $75,000 if they play all season in the NBA G League. Like anything new, there was some trepidation. But after trying it, the role proved to be a great fit. “My agent and I talked for a long time about it and I knew it was a good idea for a guy like me to have the opportunity to be with the NBA team as well as the NBA G League team,” said 28-year-old guard/forward C.J. Williams, who played collegiately at NC State, overseas in Cyprus, Italy and France, with the NBA G League’s L.A. D-Fenders (now known as the South Bay Lakers) and, this season has been crucial for the L.A. Clippers, while splitting time with the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. “Going in, honestly, nobody could have predicted that I’d be playing this much when I signed. You never know what can change from day to day. As long as you keep your mind and your body prepared then you’ll be fine.” “It gives you the opportunity to be a part of an NBA team and be seen at that level,” said 27-year-old Atlanta Hawks two-way guard Josh Magette, a former UAB star who played in Greece, The Netherlands, with the D-Fenders (where he teamed with Williams in ’13-14), and this season with the Hawks, where he’s splitting the season between Atlanta and the NBA G League’s Erie BayHawks. “It’s all about making the most of your opportunity when you get out there, playing the way you always played and showing them that you’re good enough to be out there and be on one of the rosters. I think they’re doing a really good job

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NBA Voices

VOICES CARRY

The NBA and its players continue a legacy of equality, diversity and inclusion. NBA Voices is an initiative to address social injustice, promote inclusion, uplift voices and bridge divides in our communities. It represents another step in the league’s ongoing work around racial, gender and economic inequality. To date the NBA family has supported more than 225 programs, events and initiatives in 26 cities, recruited more than 40,000 new mentor signups, and brought together more than 10,00 youth and enforcement officers. Through NBA voices, the NBA family continues using the game of basketball to bring people together and bridge divides in communities

NBA Voices Programs and Platforms

BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH BASKETBALL: Through 10-week community basketball tournaments paired with leadership curriculum and other the NBA family uses the game to break down barriers and develop important bonds of trust between young people, mentors, community leaders and law enforcement.

MENTORING: Building on the NBA family’s partnership with MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, PSAs, grassroots events, ticket donations and online organizing highlight the power of mentoring and encourage Americans to become mentors

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: The NBA family creates opportunities for young people, parents, local leaders and members of law enforcement to sit down and engage in candid dialogue about the challenges we face and our shared responsibility to create change.

NBA Voices Community Network The NBA and its teams support a network of more than 50 community-based organizations working to address inequality and empower young people across the country.

Share Your Voice: NBA Voices Champions Are you an NBA Voices Champion? Share how you’re helping to uplift your community using the new Share Your Voice platform at voices.nba.com or on social media using #NBAVoices. 10 | NBA All-Star 2018

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Jr. NBA

THE FUNDAMENTALS The Jr. NBA is the Leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official youth basketball program for boys and girls ages 6-14. This year, the Jr. NBA expanded its year-round programming by adding new resourcesand initiatives for coaches and parents..

Jr. NBA Coach App

Jr. NBA Parent Program

The Jr. NBA Coach App offers coaches of all levels access to the Jr. NBA curriculum, which features 250 instructional videos with NBA and WNBA players, and 48 practice plans designed for various skill levels. The app also includes a unique tool that allows coaches to create custom practice plans by selecting their favorite skills and drills. The Jr. NBA Coach App is available now for iOS and Android.

The Jr. NBA parent program is designed to educate parents and guardians by providing resources to help them better understand the youth basketball ecosystem, and tools to engage with existing networks in their community. The program features a series of parent forums across the country and parent newsletters with educational resources, recommendations and tips. Visit JrNBA.com to learn more!

Jr. NBA Youth Basketball Leadership Conference

Jr. NBA Program of the Month

The Jr. NBA Youth Basketball Leadership Conference presented by Under Armour is a two-day forum for youth basketball coaches, administrators and other industry stakeholders to discuss ways to positively shape youth basketball and share best practices that enhance the overall experience for players, coaches and parents. The conference will be held May 2018 in Chicago during the NBA Draft Combine and will include panel discussions, oncourt coaching sessions and networking events. To learn more, visit http://jr.nba.com/youthbasketballleadershipconference

Jr. NBA Program of the Month presented by Under Armour rewards and recognizes one youth basketball organization each month that embodies the values of the Jr. NBA and is making a positive impact on youth in its community. Each winning organization receives an Under Armour gift card, a free Positive Coaching Alliance in-person training session and recognition across Jr. NBA digital platforms. All monthly winners will attend the Jr. NBA Youth Basketball Leadership Conference, where the Jr. NBA Program of the Year will be announced and awarded $5,000. Nominate your program today at JrNBA.com!

12 | NBA All-Star 2018

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Retired Players Association

POSTGAME SHOW

Retired NBA players might no longer be on the court playing, but they are still making an impact off the court.

NBA Legends (L-R) Willis Reed, Julius Erving, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson and Bob Pettit at All-Star 2017.

14 | NBA All-Star 2018

actively engage with the community in their post-career days. As part of this pledge, the NBRPA will continue expanding its signature initiatives, including Legends All-Star Weekend Celebration, Legends World Sports Conference, Legends Fantasy Weekend and Full Court Press: Prep For Success youth clinics. Through these cornerstone events, the NBRPA aims to grow awareness for the organization’s Dave DeBusschere Scholarship fund. In 2017, the association paid out more than $250,000 to support members and their families seeking college degrees. In all, the NBRPA has distributed more than $1.5 million to date and in 2017, increased the number of scholarships that were distributed by 97 percent. In addition to these efforts, the NBRPA recently announced that it is expanding its Member Grant Program to concentrate more of its operating funds on helping its member’s transition to life after the game. This comes at a time when the organization has made its focus to reinvest in its mission and provide additional resources to its members.

But…it doesn’t end there. The growth of the association’s national chapter program has seen member engagement expand to new heights. In the year ahead, the NBRPA will continue with its strategic mission to recruit new, active members who foster growth in their communities. In an effort to spread that message, the NBRPA will distribute member stories on LegendsofBasketball.com and on social media at @NBAAlumni. The NBRPA is the only alumni organization of its kind that is directly supported by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). Both associations have provided direct financial support to the NBRPA’s charitable missions, as well as provided counsel and leadership on a variety of collaborative projects. We are excited to make 2018 the biggest year yet for our association. We are thrilled to be part of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend festivities and to invite you to join in on our incredible mission. The time is now to seize the opportunity of the future. Are you ready?

JOE MURPHY/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

here has never been a time more important to our future than right now. The growth of the game has meant more attention and responsibility on stars of the past to positively impact communities around the country. Representing 1000+ former professional basketball players, in both the NBA and WNBA, the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) has a two pronged mission of helping former athletes and their families transition to life after basketball, while also impacting the community through sports. In 2018, the NBRPA has pledged to take on an even bigger role in the community and use the increased awareness for the greater good. In honoring the organization’s founders, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens, Dave DeBusschere and Oscar Robertson, the NBRPA recognizes those who have come before and have left a lasting legacy on both current and former professional basketball players. These players created an association over 25 years ago that still remains inclusive to all former players and serves as a gateway for them to

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LOS ANGELES

Lakers/Clippers Basketball Timeline 1960

After 13 seasons in Minneapolis, where they won five NBA championships, the Lakers relocate to Los Angeles along with their AllStar forward Elgin Baylor and their rookie guard Jerry West.

NOVEMBER 15, 1960

Baylor scores an NBA record 71 points and grabs 25 boards in a win over the New York Knicks.

APRIL 18, 1962

L.A. battles Boston to seven games, plus an overtime, in the 1962 Finals, but the Celtics come out on top.

SEPTEMBER, 1965

Lakers owner Bob Short sells the franchise to Canadian entrepreneur Jack Kent Cooke for $5 million.

1967-68

Cooke moves the Lakers from the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena into the “Fabulous” Forum, a new $16 million, 17,000-seat arena in Inglewood, Calif.

JULY 9, 1968

The Lakers acquire the NBA’s reigning MVP Wilt Chamberlain from Philadelphia for center Darrall Imhoff, forward Jerry Chambers and guard Archie Clark.

MAY 5, 1969

West records a triple-double with 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, but it’s not enough, as the Bill Russell-led Celtics defeat the Lakers in the Finals for the fifth time this decade.

1971-72

Despite Baylor’s retirement nine games into the season, the Lakers reel off an incredible 33 consecutive wins, en route to a 69-13 record. At the conclusion of the season, Bill Sharman is named Coach of the Year and the Lakers defeat the Knicks, 4-1, to win their first NBA Championship since moving to L.A.

PHOTO

18 | NBA All-Star 2018

By Jeramie McPeek JUNE 16, 1975 JUNE 25, 1979

With the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, the Lakers select Earvin “Magic” Johnson out of Michigan State University.

Two years after Chamberlain left the NBA, Los Angeles lands another superstar center. In a blockbuster six-player trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Lakers acquire a three-time MVP in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who will go on to earn three more over the next five seasons in purple and gold.

1979

Cooke sells the Lakers, along with the Forum and the L.A. Kings of the NHL, to real-estate investor Jerry Buss in what is at the time the largest transaction in sports history.

MAY 16, 1980

The Lakers find themselves up 3-2 on Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers, but down a man, and a big one, going into Game 6 of the NBA Finals. With Abdul-Jabbar and his 33-points-a-game benched by a sprained ankle, head coach Paul Westhead moves his point guard to center. Magic finishes the game with 42 points, 15 boards, 7 assists, an NBA Finals MVP award and his first NBA Championship.

1981-82

San Diego Clippers owner Irv Levin sells his team to L.A. attorney and real-estate developer Donald Sterling, who will move the team to his hometown prior to the 1984-85 season.

JUNE 8, 1982

Under their rookie head coach Pat Riley, an assistant until 11 games into the season, the Lakers return to the NBA Finals, where they meet and defeat the Sixers in six games once again.

JUNE 29, 1982

The rich get richer, as the newly crowned Champions select North Carolina forward James Worthy with the No. 1 pick in the 1982 NBA Draft.

JUNE 12, 1984

The Clippers play the Lakers in the NBA’s first intra-city rivalry. UCLA alumni Bill Walton and Abdul-Jabbar headline the matchup that is a “road” game for the Clippers at the Forum.

JUNE 9, 1985

Magic’s Lakers take the Finals rematch with Bird’s Celtics, winning in six games.

PHOTO

In their first NBA Finals meeting, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson go the full seven games, before the Celtics knock out the Lakers.

NOVEMBER 24, 1984

NBA All-Star 2018 | 19

Los Angeles Basketball Timeline 1986-87

After averaging a career-high 23.9 points, a league-best 12.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds a game, and leading the Lakers to 65 wins, Magic Johnson wins the first of his three NBA Most Valuable Player awards.

JUNE 14, 1987

JUNE 21, 1988

Magic and Bird meet for the third and final time in the Finals, with the Lakers coming out on top, 4-2, in the championship series. Amidst the locker room celebration, Riley guarantees that L.A. will win again in 1988.

The Lakers defeat the Detroit Pistons in a hard-fought seven-game series to back up Rileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bold prediction and become the first NBA team in 19 years to repeat.

JUNE 28, 1988

The Clippers select Danny Manning, the college player of the year out of the University of Kansas, with the top pick in the 1988 NBA Draft.

JUNE 28, 1989

Abdul-Jabbar announces his retirement after 20 NBA seasons. The six-time NBA Champion, six-time NBA MVP and 19-time All-Star leaves as the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-time leading scorer (38,387 points) and shotblocker (3,189).

1989-90

After leading his ballclub to a 63-19 season, Riley is named NBA Coach of the Year for the first and only time as head coach with the Lakers.

DECEMBER 1, 1990

Clippers forward Charles Smith scores a franchise-record 52 points at Denver.

NOVEMBER 7, 1991

Magic shocks the world by announcing during a press conference that he has HIV and is retiring from the NBA.

FEBRUARY 5, 1992

The Clippers make a coaching change and hire Larry Brown, who leads the team to its first winning record since relocating to L.A.

FEBRUARY 9, 1992

Voted into the starting lineup, Magic comes out of retirement to play in the 42nd NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. Johnson scores 25 points and hands out 9 assists to lead the West to a 153-113 win and earn MVP honors.

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20 | NBA All-Star 2018

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Los Angeles Basketball Timeline FEBRUARY 21, 1993

Manning becomes the first Clippers player in the L.A. era to play in the NBA All-Star Game, scoring 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field.

AUGUST 1992

Johnson wins a gold medal as a member of the legendary “Dream Team”at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

MARCH 22, 1994

Magic Johnson returns to the Lakers as head coach, replacing Randy Pfund late in a disappointing season. L.A. wins five straight games, but ends up losing its last 10 and missing the playoffs.

SUMMER 1995

Abdul-Jabbar is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

JANUARY 30, 1996

Magic comes out of retirement and plays the final 32 games of the 1995-96 season, averaging 14.6 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 boards a game.

FEBRUARY 10, 1996

Clippers rookie guard Brent Barry wins the NBA Slam Dunk title, while wearing his warm-up jacket.

JULY 1, 1996

Following the 1996 NBA Draft, the Lakers send center Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for the draft rights to high school phenom Kobe Bryant, the 13th overall pick.

JULY 19, 1996

Following in a long line of Lakers big men, dating back to George Mikan in the Minneapolis days, free-agent center Shaquille O’Neal signs a $123 million, seven-year deal with Los Angeles.

JUNE 21, 1997

Guard Penny Toler scores the first basket in WNBA history, as the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty tip-off the league’s inaugural season at the Great Western Forum.

JUNE 1999

The Lakers hire Phil Jackson as head coach.

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22 | NBA All-Star 2018

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Los Angeles Basketball Timeline OCTOBER 17, 1999

The Staples Center opens in downtown Los Angeles, as the new home court of both the Lakers and Clippers.

MAY 9, 2000

Upon leading the League in scoring (29.7 ppg) and leading the Lakers to a 67-15 record, Shaq is named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, receiving 120 of 121 votes from a panel of media members.

JUNE 19, 2000

Shaq scores 41 points and grabs 12 rebounds in Game 6 of the 2000 NBA Finals, as the Lakers eliminate the Indiana Pacers to claim their first championship in 12 years. O’Neal is named Finals MVP, becoming just the third player in NBA history to earn regular season, All-Star and Finals MVP awards in the same season.

JUNE 15, 2001

Going an incredible 15-1 in the 2001 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers defeat the 76ers to claim their second-straight championship. Shaq and Kobe combine for 55 points and 25 rebounds in the deciding Game 5 to overcome 37 points from Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson.

JUNE 27, 2001

The Clippers acquire forward Elton Brand from the Bulls for Brian Skinner and the draft rights to Tyson Chandler.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2001

The Sparks follow the Lakers’ lead by sweeping the Charlotte Sting to win their first WNBA Championship. Center Lisa Leslie becomes the first player in league history to earn MVP honors during the regular season, All-Star Game and WNBA Finals.

JUNE 12, 2002

Jackson earns his third three-peat as a head coach when the Lakers complete a sweep of the New Jersey Nets in the 2002 NBA Finals.

JULY 30, 2002

Leslie becomes the first player in WNBA history to dunk during a game with a one-handed jam on a breakaway.

AUGUST 5, 2002 AUGUST 29, 2002

Legendary Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn passes away at the age of 85.

Sparks rookie Nikki Teasley drains the game-winning jumper in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals versus the New York Liberty to secure back-to-back championships.

PHOTO

24 | NBA All-Star 2018

Los Angeles Basketball Timeline FEBRUARY 15, 2004

O’Neal records 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the West to a 136-132 win and collect another MVP trophy in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game, held at Staples Center.

JULY 14, 2004

A month after losing to the Pistons in the 2004 Finals, the Lakers trade O’Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a first-round draft pick.

JANUARY 22, 2006

Bryant scores a franchise-record 81 points versus the Toronto Raptors.

MAY 18, 2006

Brand collects 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Clippers to their biggest win in franchise history, defeating the Suns to force a Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

FEBRUARY 1, 2008

After missing the playoffs in 2005, and first-round exits the following two years, the Lakers pull off a blockbuster midseason trade with Memphis for veteran forward Pau Gasol. The move propels L.A. back to the Finals, where the NBA’s oldest rivalry is renewed with the Celtics, but Boston wins this go-around.

MAY 6, 2008

Bryant wins his first and only NBA MVP.

JULY 10, 2008

The Clippers sign freeagent guard and Los Angeleno Baron Davis.

JUNE 14, 2009

The Lakers return to the NBA Finals, where they defeat the Orlando Magic, 4-1, giving Jackson his 10th NBA Championship as a coach, one more than Celtics legend Red Auerbach.

MAY 19, 2009

JUNE 17, 2010

Despite having the third-best chance, the Clippers land the top pick in the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery, which they use to select the national college player of the year, Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin.

Two years after falling to the Celtics, the Lakers return the favor, climbing out of a 13-point, third-quarter hole to win a dramatic Game 7 at the Staples Center. It’s the franchise’s 16th NBA Championship.

PHOTO

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Los Angeles Basketball Timeline MAY 8, 2011

Phil Jackson coaches his last NBA game as the Lakers bow out to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Jackson’s retirement comes one year after winning his 11th title as a head coach.

MAY 25, 2011

Mike Brown is named new head coach of the Lakers. He had previously been head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

DECEMBER 14, 2011

The Clippers acquire four-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets, parting with Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and Al-Farouq Aminu in the deal.

APRIL 29, 2012

The Clippers play in their first playoff game since 2006, going on to win their first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies in seven games before losing to the Spurs in the second round.

FEBRUARY 26, 2012

The Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul start for the West in the NBA All-Star Game, the first time two players from the franchise have started together in the game.

JULY 11, 2012

Two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash is traded to the Lakers from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for 2013 and 2015 first round draft picks, 2013 and 2014 second round draft picks and $3 million.

AUGUST 10, 2012

The Lakers acquire center Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic as part of a fourteam trade that sends the Lakers’ Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers.

NOVEMBER 12, 2012

After a 1-4 start to the season, the Lakers name Mike D’Antoni their new head coach, replacing Mike Brown. The Lakers finish the season with a 45-37 record, but lose in the First Round of the playoffs to the San Antonio Spurs, with Kobe Bryant watching from the sidelines due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

DECEMBER 2012

MARCH 30, 2013

The Clippers become the third team in NBA history to go undefeated in a calendar month, notching a 16-0 record in December as part of a franchiserecord 17-game win streak.

Kobe Bryant scores his 31,421st career point, passing Wilt Chamberlain to become the NBA’s fourth all-time leading scorer.

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

Longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss dies from cancer at the age of 80.

APRIL 3, 2013

For the first time in franchise history, the Clippers win their 50th game in a season, defeating the Phoenix Suns 126-101.

JUNE 25, 2013

Doc Rivers is named head coach of the Clippers, replacing Vinny Del Negro. The former Clippers player was sent to the team as part of a trade with the Celtics, in exchange for a 2015 first round draft pick.

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28 | NBA All-Star 2018

Los Angeles Basketball Timeline APRIL 15, 2014

The Clippers set a franchise record with their 57th win of the 2013-14 season, before going on to defeat the Warriors in the First Round of the playoffs and lose to the Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.

MAY 27, 2014

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer purchases the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion.

DECEMBER 14, 2014

Kobe Bryant makes two free throws to pass Michael Jordan in career points. The pair of free throws give Bryant 32,293 points and third place in the all-time scoring leaders.

APRIL 13, 2016

In his final NBA game, Kobe Bryant scores 60 points at Staples Center.

APRIL 29, 2016

The Lakers name former player and Golden State Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton their new head coach, replacing Byron Scott, who served as head coach for two seasons.

JUNE 23, 2016

After receiving the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Lakers select Duke freshman Brandon Ingram.

OCTOBER 26, 2016

The LA Sparks defeat the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to win their third championship, and their first since 2002. Nneka Ogwumike is named 2016 WNBA MVP, and Candace Parker is the Finals MVP.

FEBRUARY 21, 2017

Lakers legend Magic Johnson is named the team’s new president of basketball operations. Two weeks later, on March 7, Rob Pelinka is named as the team’s general manager.

JUNE 22, 2017

For the second year in a row, the Lakers have the second overall pick in the NBA NBA Draft, and they use it to select UCLA freshman point guard Lonzo Ball.

JUNE 15, 2017

The Clippers enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the city of Inglewood, Calif., for plans to build an arena there. The arena will open by 2024, which is when the team’s lease with the Staples Center expires.

DECEMBER 18, 2017

The Lakers retire No. 8 and No. 24, the two numbers that Bryant wore during his 20-year Lakers career.

PHOTO

30 | NBA All-Star 2018

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ALL-STAR IN L.A. FLASHBACK: 1963

The first All-Star in Los Angeles was another disappointment in what would become a recurring theme of the Boston Celtics upstaging the Lakers. The East showed up at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena with three All-Stars from the arch-rival Celtics in tow (Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn) while being coached by Red Auerbach. The Celtics-led East conglomerate would lead the East to a 115-108 victory, stealing the shine from a West team that had a trio of All-Stars in Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Rudy LaRusso that was coached by Lakers head coach Fred Schaus. Russell (flanked by Cousy, left and Heinsohn in photo) would lay claim to the All-Star MVP with 19 points and a game-high 24 rebounds. Boston would steal the show again later in the year when the Celtics defeated the Lakers in the Finals, 4-2, for the 1963 NBA Championship.

NBA All-Star 2018 | 33

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All-Star 1993 was picture perfect—a high ﬂyer nicknamed Baby Jordan won the Dunk Contest, lights-out shooter Mark Price captured the Three-Point Contest and the hometown heroes took home All-Star MVP.

PITCH PERFECT

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

36 | NBA All-Star 2018

By Michael Bradley

ohn Stockton definitely remembers the snow. The extended family members who descended on his house remain embedded in his memory. Oh, and he can’t forget sharing the MVP award with teammate Karl Malone. But mostly, Stockton recalls the game. Okay, so he can’t conjure too many direct images of this pass or that shot. But when an All-Star Game stays close for the entire 48 minutes of regulation, needs overtime to determine a winner and generally resembles a version of its regular-season counterpart, it tends to stay with a person. Sure, the defense was still a bit lax at times. And a 135-132 verdict doesn’t lead one to believe there was a strict no-layups policy inside. Still, it wasn’t just some gunand-dunk demonstration. “To me, it did feel like a game, from start to finish,” Stockton says. Utah’s only All-Star experience included plenty of talent and a game-tying late bucket at the end of regulation by Knicks big man Patrick Ewing. It featured 30 points by Michael Jordan and an outstanding performance in the dunk contest by Harold “Baby Jordan” Miner. And it had some great long-range shooting by Three-Point Shootout champ Mark Price on Saturday and during the game. In short, it had a bit of everything. Mostly, though, it had Stockton and Karl Malone, who delighted the home crowd with vintage performances. Malone led the West with 28 points and pulled down 10 boards, while Stockton handed out 15 assists in the West victory. Although Jordan scored more than Malone, he needed 24 shots to reach his total, while Malone was an economical 11-of-17. And though Stockton scored just 9 points, he was more than happy to serve as a facilitator on the talented West squad. “I never went into a game thinking I’ve got to get a certain amount of shots,” says Stockton, who launched just six in the game. “I go out and play, and when I played with guys of that caliber, and every pass is a good decision, you get giddy.”

NBA All-Star 2018 | 37

The Malone and Stockton Show might have been pandering to the crowd, but there were some landmark moments that gave the game more significance. The 1993 edition was the first after the legendary Dream Team had restored order to the basketball universe by romping to the gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Eight members of that team convened in Salt Lake City on February 21, 1993. The game marked the 12th and final All-Star appearance for Detroit guard Isiah Thomas, who would retire after the 1993-94 season with two NBA titles. And it was the first for the No. 1 pick of the 1992 NBA Draft and runaway rookie sensation Shaquille O’Neal, who was voted a starter by the fans and would end up

a who’s who of basketball. Nobody cared if we played extra. It was just fun.” Pro basketball in Utah began with an exciting flourish in 1970, when the Los Angeles Stars relocated to Salt Lake City, took up residence in the Salt Palace and won the ABA title that season, dispatching Kentucky in the finals. The Salt Palace opened in the summer of 1969 and was built as a centerpiece of the city’s bid for the 1972 Winter Olympics, which were eventually held in Sapporo, Japan. This was not the first iteration of the Salt Palace, which first opened in 1899 and at the time contained a theater and bicycle racing track.

Even a blizzard over All-Star Weekend did not stop fans from getting into the game.

38 | NBA All-Star 2018

NBA PHOTOS; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

being selected to 15 All-Star games and win three All-Star MVP honors. Although Shaq had a relatively modest outing, registering 14 points and 7 rebounds, the eventual Rookie of the Year generated great interest and fan enthusiasm. So, too, did Salt Lake City. Although it isn’t the largest city on the NBA travel circuit, it acquitted itself Isiah Thomas (#11) took part in his 12th and final All-Star Game while Shaquille O’Neal well. Fans were gracious and fervent, even though (#32) made his All-Star debut. the blizzard that struck town on Saturday dumped an inch of snow in an hour at its height. The locals still lined up for the NBA Jam Session, and the Wasatch Mountains The Stars hosted the 1973 ABA All-Star Game, the only other surrounding SLC were covered with snow, creating a picturesque time (before or since) the midseason hoops extravaganza has backdrop for the event. landed in Utah. Three members of the Stars were selected for the As usual, there was amazing talent on display, beginning with game, including forward Willie Wise, who led the way for the West the locals. But Jordan also put on a show after coming to town on with 26 points. Zelmo Beaty, who had played in two NBA All-Star his private plane. And his Bulls’ partner, Scottie Pippen, was his games during the ’60s as a member of the St. Louis Hawks, led usual stat-sheet-stuffing self, with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists the Stars’ 1971 title run, and sleek shooting guard James Jones and 5 steals. Cleveland’s Price, fresh off of winning the threerounded out the Utah triumvirate. LaDell Andersen, a legendary point crown the night before, scored 19 points, second highest college coach for Utah State and BYU who directed the Stars to a on the East team. In a game that focused on the hometown pair of Western Division titles during his two seasons with the club, heroes, plenty of West team members attracted attention, too. was the West’s head coach. San Antonio’s David Robinson had 21 points and 10 boards, while It was an interesting, and ultimately for the locals, satisfying Phoenix’s Dan Majerle (18 points), Golden State’s Tim Hardaway game. Led by the Nets’ Julius Erving and Carolina’s Billy (16) and the Clippers’ Danny Manning (10)—the first representative Cunningham, the East took a 65-52 halftime lead. But the West of the Clippers in seven years—were also worth watching. And charged back after intermission, and the crowd worked itself having overtime in an All-Star Game made things even better. into a froth during a 39-19 fourth-quarter charge led by Denver’s “It was a blast,” Majerle says. “I think we relished it. It got sturdy point guard Warren Jabali. The Rockets’ floor leader competitive down the stretch, and the guys on the floor were finished with 16 points, 7 assists and 3 steals and led the West

comeback to earn MVP honors. In addition to the West win, the game had another similarity to its successor 20 years later: a blizzard hit Salt Lake City that weekend, too. Although the Stars continued to be one of the ABA’s top drawing cards, the franchise folded due to financial difficulties after playing just 16 games during the 1975-76 season, the ABA’s last. There were rumors the Spirits of St. Louis would move to Utah for the ’76-77 season, but the ABA folded, the NBA absorbed four of its teams, and Salt Lake City was without a pro hoops team until June 1979, when the New Orleans Jazz bolted the Big Easy for a mountain home. The team struggled somewhat financially in the early years, but when Larry Miller bought the club in 1985, its fortunes changed dramatically. Drafting Stockton in 1984 and

“It was a great game,” Majerle says. “It was competitive and went to overtime. Down the stretch, in the crunch, the four of us made some key shots.” The first time Stockton walked into an All-Star locker room—1989, in Houston—he made it a point to say hello to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was in his final season of a remarkable career that included 19 All-Star selections. Abdul-Jabbar was gracious and friendly to Stockton, who was in his fifth year in the League. That impressed Stockton, so from that point on, he decided to be a welcoming figure for newcomers. “I always made an attempt to talk to the younger guys,” he says. “Every time a new guy came through, I remembered how

Michael Jordan (#23) led all scorers with 30 points, but he had plenty of help. Scottie Pippen (#30) netted 10 and Patrick Ewing (#33) poured in 15.

40 | NBA All-Star 2018

exciting it was for me my first time.” Stockton was more than willing to greet first-time All-Stars, but he didn’t sense an obligation that he and Malone were responsible for making sure their 1993 brethren were made comfortable in Salt Lake City. “I didn’t feel an added responsibility for hosting,” Stockton says. “I felt it with family members, because there were a lot of them congregating at my house, but I did not feel an extra responsibility to the fellas.” Joining Stockton and Malone on the West roster was an impressive collection that included four future Hall of Famers and several multiple All-Star participants. Leading the way was Barkley, who was in the midst of a run of 11 straight All-Star selections. The undersized, springy forward had been traded the previous summer from Philadelphia to Phoenix for Tim Perry, Andrew Lang and Jeff Hornacek and that season would help the Suns to their second-ever Finals appearance, a six-game loss to the Bulls. Barkley tied Malone for most minutes played (34) and scored 16 points while dishing out 7 assists and logging 4 steals. “He was my best teammate ever,” says Majerle, who played three seasons with Barkley in Phoenix. “He was ultra

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (3)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Malone the following year sure helped, too. “To get a chance to play with a guy like [Malone] was a oncein-a-lifetime deal,” Stockton says. “He could catch anything. He ran like a deer. He played with a combination of power and finesse that nobody had seen before or after. He could play above the rim or down on the floor. His eyes were amazing.” All Malone did during his 19-year career (18 with Utah, one with the Lakers) was win two NBA MVP awards, earn 14 All-Star selections, and finish as the second-leading scorer in NBA history with 36,928 points. The 6-9 “Mailman” excelled at getting to the foul line and shot more free throws throughout his career than any other player. He and Stockton ran the pick-and-roll what seemed to be a thousand different ways and tormented opponents with their amazing on-court relationship. Their arrivals in Utah propelled the Jazz’s ascension to an NBA power. From 19882000, the Jazz won 50 or more games 10 times and captured the Midwest Division twice. In 1997 and ’98, Utah reached the Finals, losing both times in six games to Jordan and Pippen’s Bulls. It was entirely fitting that those two stars would be the engines of the West’s victory. Each played more than 30 minutes, and when the game tightened, each was on the floor, along with Majerle and Charles Barkley.

competitive during games and a special person. He was a lot of fun to have on the team and was a great teammate who kept everything loose.” San Antonio center David Robinson also had a big game, logging 21 points and 10 boards in just 26 minutes of play. Though just in his fourth year, the 10-time All-Star and 1994-95 MVP had already established himself as one of the League’s most formidable big men. His battles with Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston’s 12-time All-Star and two-time NBA champ big man were epic, especially since they were in the same division and met several times throughout the season. Although Olajuwon only scored three points in the 1993 All-Star tilt, he would score 19 and grab 11 rebounds the following year. Portland’s Clyde Drexler was voted a starter, but injury problems hampered him throughout the season, limiting him to just 49 games.

in 1991-92 and 41 in 1992-93, their only .500 or better campaigns during a 26-year stretch. San Antonio’s Sean Elliott and Seattle’s Shawn Kemp were each playing in their first All-Star Games. No one knew the 1993 All-Star Game would be Jordan’s last for two seasons. Nor could anyone predict he’d be coming back to the city to torment the home crowd four years later in the Finals. Jordan would announce his baseball hiatus after the season—and his third consecutive NBA title and seventh straight scoring title. Jordan would play 36 minutes in Salt Lake City, lead all scorers with 30 points and generally set the tone for

Stockton only attempted six shots, but controlled the tempo of the game by setting up the many West scorers. Most of his assists went to Jazz teammate and co-All-Star MVP, Karl Malone (#32), who paced the West with 28 points.

42 | NBA All-Star 2018

the East squad. Yes, All-Star Games are generally less intense when it comes to defense and competitive drive, but anybody underestimating Jordan’s desire to win—at anything—was making a grave error. “Michael wants to win at ping pong and at checkers,” Stockton says. “If he were mowing the lawn, he would want to win mowing the lawn.” Thomas scored 8 points and handed out 4 assists in 32 minutes, not exactly a resounding end to his 12-year All-Star—and two-time All-Star MVP—résumé, but the Piston stalwart would provide the leadership that made him so vital to Detroit’s 1980s ascension. His Motor City backcourt mate, Joe Dumars, was at the end of a fouryear All-Star stretch (he would play two more times) and scored 5 points in 17 minutes. Pippen’s 10 points were not overwhelming, but his status as a starter could not be argued, and his role in the Bulls’ success was clear. By adding 5 boards, 4 assists and 5 steals, he showed how complete a player he was. O’Neal’s All-Star debut was solid, as

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Drexler played 11 minutes and scored only two points, but he was in the middle of a stretch of seven straight All-Star appearances and had led the Blazers to the Finals just eight months ago. Majerle, who was playing in his second of three All-Star contests, lived up to every possible definition of his “Thunder Dan” nickname. The Central Michigan product had become a hustling, physical presence who could also hit the long-range shot. In the game, he was 3 of 6 from behind the arc. As someone who would divide his career almost equally between the Eastern and Western Conferences, he understood that there was still an element of pride in representing your neighborhood in such contests. “You didn’t want to lose,” Majerle says. “The Western Conference always wanted to dominate the Eastern Conference. There was always that competition.” The West backcourt was fortified by Golden State’s Tim Hardaway and Portland’s Terry Porter, each of whom was playing in his second All-Star game. Hardaway scored 16, while Porter added 7. The Clippers’ Manning scored 10 points on pristine, 5-of-5 shooting and was in the midst of helping his team enjoy some prosperity in the midst of a dry spell. L.A. won 45 games

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his 14 points and 7 boards demonstrated, but the rookie did get a dose of humility when Malone thrilled the hometown crowd by blocking a Shaq dunk. The Knicks’ Patrick Ewing was enjoying one of his finest seasons. In fact, his 12.1 rpg that year would be a career high. He scored 15 points for the East and grabbed 10 rebounds, tying Malone and Robinson for game-high honors. Although Ewing had played in All-Star Games before and would be selected for teams in years to come, he enjoyed the experience. “That was a great team and one that I appreciate being a part

and Cedric Ceballos in the final of the dunk contest. He put on a show, with a two-handed reverse slam that scored a 49 in the first round and a lefthanded windmill that brought a 48 in the final as his highlights. Even though there were those who questioned the players’ commitment to defense during the game, a reasonable concern in a 135-132 contest, Phoenix coach Paul Westphal, who was directing the West squad, didn’t want to hear it. “I thought both teams went at it,” he said at halftime.

The West had plenty of weapons at its disposal, including eventual 1993 MVP Charles Barkley (#23), Dan Majerle (#9) and David Robinson (#50).

44 | NBA All-Star 2018

The West held a 57-52 lead at the half and led, 80-77, after three quarters. Jordan, who had struggled with his shot throughout much of the game, and in the fourth quarter had made just 6-of-17 shots, led an East rally in the final minutes. Still, with 0:32 left, the West held a 117-112 advantage. But thanks to Jordan and Price, the East closed the gap. With eight seconds to play, Jordan fed Ewing, who hit a 15-footer to tie the game at 119. Hardaway missed a duck-under 16-footer at the buzzer, and the game went to overtime. Stockton and Majerle led the way in the extra five minutes. Majerle’s three-pointer early in OT put the West up, and Stockton’s 4 points and 2 assists made sure the East never took the lead. The West had won, and the local heroes had led the way. “The game went into overtime, and we won it in front of our hometown fans,” Stockton says. “It was one plus after another. “Karl and I were MVPs. I never expected that.” Or that in the midst of an exhibition, a game would break out. Perfectly scripted.

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (3)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

of as I get older,” he says. “It was a great team with a lot of talent, and it’s what the All-Star game is all about. The fans got to see a great game, and it was an honor be a part of it.” Cavalier big man Brad Daugherty was one of three Cavaliers on the East roster. This was the last of the five All-Star Games in which he participated, and he added 8 points and 7 boards to the cause. Cavs’ forward Larry Nance was also making his final All-Star appearance, while sharpshooter Price would play in one more, in 1994. He scored 19 and made 6 of 9 from behind the arc, proving that his win the night before in the Three-Point Shootout over Porter in the finals was no fluke. Price would win the shooting contest again in 1994. Dominique Wilkins, who had earned the eighth of nine straight All-Star selections, scored 9 and pulled down 7 boards, while Indiana forward Detlef Schrempf scored 3 points in his first AllStar appearance. Miner, a rookie for the Miami Heat who averaged 10.3 ppg during the 1992-93 season, outpointed Clarence Weatherspoon

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ALL-STAR IN L.A. FLASHBACK: 1972

WEN ROBERTS (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

46 | NBA All-Star 2018

WEN ROBERTS (4)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

The 1972 All-Star Game was in many ways a measure of revenge for Los Angeles against Boston. Beginning with that first All-Star Game in L.A. in 1963, the East had won seven of the last nine All-Star contests and the Lakers had lost to the Celtics in the Finals four times. Like in 1963, the Celtics and Lakers each entered the game with a troika of All-Stars—Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Gail Goodrich for the Lakers and John Havlicek, Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White of the Celtics. The West was coached by Lakers head coach Bill Sharman, who played 10 seasons in Boston, where he won four championships and made four All-Star teams. The East was led by Tom Heinsohn, who had transitioned over to coaching after a nine-year Celtics career that saw him win eight championships and make six All-Star teams. The Forum crowd was treated to a celebration of Los Angeles as West garnered MVP honors with 13 points (he was tied with Connie Hawkins) in a balanced Western Conference attack. Individually, the Boston trio played better—Havlicek scored 15, Cowens had 14 to go with 20 boards and White put up 12—and New York Knicks guard Walt Frazier added 15 points, but the East was edged 112-110. To further complete the turning of the tables, Los Angeles would go on to defeat the New York Knicks (Boston fell to New York in the Conference Finals) for its first championship in Los Angeles (the franchise had five previously in Minnesota).

NBA All-Star 2018 | 47

BLUSTER

48 | NBA All-Star 2018

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (4)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

he 1988 NBA All-Star Weekend weaved together more storylines than an epic novel: A three-point threepeat, a dunk contest for the ages, a career scoring record, a thawing of relations, a Windy City homecoming for several players, and even a wedding. In retrospect, it also marked the beginning of a new era. During the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s, the NBA had vaulted into the national spotlight thanks largely to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Now they passed the rock to Michael Jordan, or at least shared it, and he would go on to propel the NBA to unprecedented success during the next decade, at home and abroad. For the city of Chicago, hosting its second NBA All-Star Game, the weekend was not only a celebration but also a coronation for its favorite son. Though Jordan was not yet the transcendent star who would become a global phenomenon, he clearly ranked among the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top players, coming off a season in which he posted the sixth-highest scoring average (37.1 ppg) in NBA history. As he neared his 25th birthday, he seemed to have no ceiling. Must be the shoes, right?

By John Fawaz

RY ARRIVAL The 1988 All-Star in the Windy City turned into coronation day for Michael Jordan.

NBA All-Star 2018 | 49

included a Bulls legend (guard Jerry Sloan), the team’s current coach (Doug Collins), and a former South Side prep star (Tommy Hawkins). Johnny “Red” Kerr, who had been the Bulls’ first coach, guided the West squad while former Celtics great Bob Cousy coached the East. Former Buffalo Braves swingman Randy Smith and former Celtics center Dave Cowens led the East, which built a 17-point advantage and seemed headed to an easy victory. The West, however, stormed back to take the lead behind Collins and former Warriors forward Rick Barry. “We were down 17, but it was funny how those guys came back,” Kerr said. “The other guys in the lineup said, ‘We got a chance to win this game,’ instead of saying, ‘This will be over in 10 minutes.’ “It was one of the best finishes I’ve ever seen in one of these games.” The East, suddenly trailing, answered to go back up by three, only to watch Collins sink a three-pointer to tie the game in Dominique Wilkins gave Jordan plenty of competition in the Slam Dunk Contest.

50 | NBA All-Star 2018

NBA PHOTOS; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Exactly where he ranked among the game’s top players was the subject of much discussion. Any great scorer is inevitably pegged as selfish. Critics pointed out that Jordan’s individual feats had not translated into team success. No player, no matter how great, could win a championship by himself. Supporters countered that Jordan’s lack of a supporting cast often forced him to play superhero. Give him time, he’s only in his fourth season. While the debate simmered, fans flocked to see him play, kids tried to emulate No. 23 on the playground, and Air Jordans flew off the shelves, transforming the retail landscape and spawning sneaker culture. More than a few of Jordan’s peers were not so affable. Some resented the fact Magic Johnson (#32) and Larry Bird (#33) ruled the ’80s, but both stars understood that Jordan would that he had an endorsement deal before be the next star to carry the League. he even played a game. In 1985, in his first regulation. The East eventually prevailed 47-45 on an overtime Slam Dunk contest, Jordan wore his Nike-branded warmups while layup by Cowens, which was fitting considering that he had been competing during the first round, which purportedly did not endear the MVP the last time that Chicago had hosted the NBA Allhim to some of his fellow All-Stars. Rumor had it that veteran Star Game, in 1973. players tried to teach the rookie a lesson by freezing him out at “It was like World War III out there,” said Collins. “In the sudden the next day’s NBA All-Star Game. Or so the story goes (there were death, it was a melee for the rebound. There’s pushing and denials all around). shoving. It was like a typical NBA game.” Regardless of any actual boycott, Jordan admittedly did not After the game, a reporter asked Collins if he was ready for feel welcomed by his fellow players. The All-Star Weekend, which the dunk contest. is all about socializing with players from around the League, “I couldn’t dunk a doughnut in coffee,” he said. brought that issue to the fore. No question that in his two previous But first, before the dunkers could fly, the Long Distance appearances (1985 and 1987; he missed 1986 because of an injury), Shootout, as it was called at the time, took center stage. The threehe had been tentative on the court and isolated off it. point shooting contest, now in its third year, had belonged entirely This time, however, that tension evaporated the moment the to Bird. In 1986, the contest’s inaugural year, he had strolled into players gathered for the weekend, with Jordan later saying, the locker room, looked at his seven opponents, and said, “Which “For the first time, I really feel accepted by everyone.” His dues one of you guys is going to finish second?” He was so far ahead in apparently paid, Jordan was embraced at last. that year’s final round that he intentionally banked in a shot. The Saturday tipped off with the Legends Game, in front of an 1987 contest had been closer but Bird still repeated as champion, enthusiastic sellout crowd at Chicago Stadium. The East roster and he was the favorite to win again in Chicago. featured former Bulls player Clifford Ray, while the West’s players

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Pat Riley was coaching in his sixth All-Star Game in seven years.

His East teammates did their part in helping him secure the MVP, but Jordan was unstoppable even on his own.

52 | NBA All-Star 2018

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (2)/ANDY HAYT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

“I didn’t have to [trash talk] this year,” said Bird, one of the all-time greats in the verbal arts. “They all knew who was going to win.” Indeed, as the Celtics’ star literally walked away with the threepeat. The indelible image of the shootout is Bird, his right arm outstretched triumphantly, heading towards midcourt as his winning shot went through the hoop. The crowd came out of its seats, cheering wildly for Bird and warming up for the night’s main event—rooting Jordan to victory in the Slam Dunk contest. An injury to Cleveland’s Ron Harper reduced the field to seven players, not that it mattered. Everyone considered it a two-man competition between Jordan, who had won the year before, and Atlanta Hawks forward Dominique Wilkins, aka “The Human Highlight Film,” who had won in 1985. Two of the greatest dunkers

ever, capable of doing things on a court that left even their peers in awe. Both easily advanced through the first two rounds to set up the final everyone expected. This heavyweight match lived up to its billing, right down to questions about the judges’ scorecards that linger to this day. Wilkins opened the final at the free throw line, throwing the ball off the glass, catching it in midair and slamming it home from high above the rim. Jordan answered with a two-handed double-clutch dunk with his back to the basket. Each received a perfect score of 50. Wilkins’ second dunk was a right baseline windmill jam, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the record for most career points in so spectacular that it even the All-Star Game. brought oohs and aahs from the decidedly pro-Jordan crowd and another perfect score from the judges. Jordan followed with a twisting double-clutch dunk, earning a 47, apparently because it was not unique enough. The five judges were still getting an earful from the fans as Wilkins set up for his final attempt, needing only a 48 to clinch the contest. The Hawks’ star approached from the other sideline, along the left baseline, and delivered one of his signature jams, a twohanded windmill dunk. The judges gave him a 45, to the surprise of many (Jordan said he thought Wilkins deserved a higher score) and the delight of the crowd. Now Jordan just needed a score of 48 to tie and 49 to win. For his final dunk, Jordan went to midcourt, palming the ball while the fans grew louder. He wasn’t letting the drama build. Instead, he was trying to come up with a dunk unique enough to rate a perfect score. He found his inspiration when he spotted Julius Erving in the crowd. Jordan backpedaled to the opposite basket, and like Dr. J, he dribbled the length of the court while picking up speed. He took off from the free throw line, and came down for a powerful one-handed slam—only to see the ball bounce off the back of the rim. His miscue briefly took the air out of the crowd, but the contest wasn’t over yet. Each player was allowed one miss. Jordan took advantage of his mulligan by repeating his dunk, only this time he launched himself from just inside the free throw line and slammed it home. For good measure, he added in his own wrinkle to the free-throw line that Dr. J made famous by bringing the ball back and bending his knees on the now-iconic dunk. He received a perfect 50 in what turned out to be his final appearance in the Slam Dunk contest. Many jokes about Chicago’s history of voting irregularities followed, but Wilkins took the controversy in stride. “It was a great show, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Wilkins, who would go on to recapture dunk glory at the 1990 Slam Dunk contest.

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Jordan added to his trophy room, winning the Slam Dunk crown on Saturday and then capped off All-Star by capturing the All-Star Game MVP hardware on Sunday.

54 | NBA All-Star 2018

every time down the floor. “I wanted to make sure Michael had the most butter on his bread,” Thomas said. “This was Michael’s hometown. This was his weekend.” Play continued at a breakneck pace, with Jordan and Johnson shadowing each other on both ends. It may have been an exhibition game, but the players went all out in the first quarter, challenging shots and double teaming down low. Magic’s 5 assists helped the West take a 32-27 lead after one quarter. Jordan led the East with 8 points. In the second quarter, Jordan and Wilkins picked up where they left off the day before, sparking an 11-0 run that gave the East a lead it would not relinquish. Wilkins had a spectacular dunk, Jordan scored on a layup after doing a 360-degree spin followed by an up and under, and then added a double-clutch dunk. The East led 60-54 at the half. Jordan had 18 points on 8 of 11 from the field, and Wilkins had 13. The dynamic duo continued its rampage in the second half. Wilkins opened with an alley-oop dunk on a pass from Thomas and a two-handed slam on a fastbreak. Only foul trouble could slow Jordan. The East, which led 99-89 after three quarters, expanded its edge to 108-94 with 9:39 remaining. Jordan returned at that point, with the game seemingly in hand. The frenetic pace, which stat wizard Marty Aronoff compared to a ping-pong game, picked up again. (Aronoff said he went through five pens in the fourth quarter alone trying to record all the stats.) The outcome wasn’t in doubt but the action was entertaining nonetheless. The only questions at the end were how many points could Jordan score and would Kareem get the career record. AbdulJabbar seemed to have broken the record at the end of third

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (3)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

On to Sunday’s main event, where the East started five players (Bird, Jordan, Wilkins, Pistons guard Isiah Thomas, and Bullets center Moses Malone) destined for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. All told, 15 of the 24 players who appeared in the 1988 NBA All-Star Game would be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, along with one of the coaches (the Lakers’ Pat Riley, who was leading the West for the sixth time in seven years). The West started four future Hall of Fame members: Lakers guard Magic Johnson, Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, Nuggets forward Alex English and Jazz forward Karl Malone. Denver guard Lafayette Lever joined Magic in the starting backcourt. The West’s bench included Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, playing in his 17th NBA All-Star Game. He entered the game needing 10 points to surpass Oscar Robertson (246) as the career leader in All-Star points. At age 40, Abdul-Jabbar was older than six of the players who had appeared in the Legends Game the day before and just two months younger than the East’s coach, Mike Fratello of the Atlanta Hawks. The game represented homecomings for three players on the East—Thomas, Hawks guard Doc Rivers, and Sixers guard Maurice Cheeks—and one on the West squad (Mavericks forward Mark Aguirre). All four received nice ovations, although Thomas also heard a lot of boos, probably because he was the alleged ringleader of the Jordan boycott three years earlier, not to mention that he played for the Pistons, who had been involved in a melee with the Bulls three weeks prior. The crowd wanted to see Jordan shine and his teammates did all they could to oblige. The West won the tip, Bird made a steal and immediately threw an alley-oop pass, ostensibly intended for Jordan, that sailed well into the crowd. Thomas passed to Jordan on each of the next two possessions, and looked for him almost

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quarter when he missed a three-pointer at the buzzer but goaltending was called. It was announced in the arena and the crowd cheered. Except the basket didn’t count. After the referees conferred, they determined it was not an East player who interfered with Kareem’s shot but rather West forward Xavier McDaniel. No basket for AbdulJabbar, and no record, at least not today. The East had the game in hand, and he hadn’t played at all in the fourth quarter. But the crowd began chanting his name, and Riley sent him back in with 52 seconds left. “I hadn’t forgotten about Kareem,” Riley said. “I thought about it long and hard. I didn’t want to put him back in [for] garbage time. “I was outvoted 19,000 to 1.” During a timeout, the West players lobbied to be the one to get the assist, not that there was any debate. For the umpteenth time, Magic delivered a perfect dime to Kareem in the post, who followed with a skyhook in rhythm. The crowd roared, and even Riley cracked a smile. “I haven’t really had a chance to line up my milestones, but this

covered his face. “My teammates were already paying me a home tribute the way they were setting me up,” Jordan said. “I wasn’t aware of the record and I wasn’t chasing any. I was just satisfied with the good game I was having, and that was it.” Final score: East 138, West 133. Jordan’s stat line: 40 points, accumulated by making 17 of 23 shots from the field and all 6 of his free throw attempts, along with 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 steals, and 3 assists, in 29 minutes. Nobody questioned the unanimous vote that named him MVP. Wilkins finished with 29 points, while Thomas had 15 assists. Bird logged a team-high 32 minutes but scored only 6 points, providing defense, rebounding and countless screens to free Jordan. The only other East players in double figures were Boston’s Danny Ainge (12 points) and Cleveland’s Brad Daugherty (12 points), who at age 22 was the youngest All-Star. When Jordan went to the bench in foul trouble in the third quarter, Ainge made three treys to help the East take a double-digit lead. For the West, Magic logged a game-high 39 minutes, finishing

The 1988 All-Star Game boasted legendary talents. Between the two rosters, there were 15 eventual Hall of Famers.

56 | NBA All-Star 2018

with 17 points and 19 assists. He would have easily broken his own record for most assists in an All-Star Game (22, set in 1984) if his teammates, many who were unaccustomed to such wizardry, hadn’t mishandled so many of his passes. Eight West players scored in double figures, topped by Karl Malone (22 points) and Hakeem Olajuwon (21). Malone wore number 7 during the game to honor former Jazz great Pete Maravich, who had died the month before. After the game, the discussion resumed. Who is the best player? Magic made some room at the top. “Nobody knows who is the best,” Johnson said. “We all try to excel to be in that group, and he has arrived. He is one of the top three.” Jordan savored the moment. “Whoever wrote the script, we really played straight to it,” he said. “From the dunking contest right to winning the MVP and the game, to having a good time. “A picture-perfect weekend for me and the fans.” Among those in attendance were Michael’s parents, and they knew what the weekend meant to their son. “He did seem like an outsider until now,” James Jordan told the Chicago Tribune. “After today, he is accepted, very much so. They finally realized what he is going to do for other players and the League in general.”

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

one was nice because of the way the fans responded to it,” AbdulJabbar said. “I thought the fans were yelling for Mark Aguirre, but then I realized they wanted me to go in there.…They’ve always been nice to me here.” If they had been yelling for Aguirre, he probably would have asked them to pipe down. He had barely slept since arriving in Chicago. He spent Friday preparing for his wedding, got hitched on Saturday, and then celebrated nonstop until Sunday morning. “Isiah came up at halftime and said, ‘You aren’t going to score a point,’ and he was laughing at me,” Aguirre said. “I told him I didn’t care if I scored.” Though Aguirre’s weekend was memorable for reasons other than basketball, he put up surprisingly decent numbers considering his physical state. After going 0 for 3 in the first half, he made 5 of 7 second-half shots and finished with 14 points in 12 minutes. Abdul-Jabbar had the career record, and the East had the victory. In the 45 seconds remaining, all eyes focused on Jordan. “Near the end of the game, I look up and I see Michael has 36 points,” Thomas said. “I say, ‘Let’s get 40.’” Jordan scored his 38th point on a turnaround in the lane. An alley-oop from Thomas put him at 40, just two shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most points in an All-Star Game, set in 1962. Next time down the court, Thomas tried to pass to Jordan again, but he looked away, sheepishly laughing as his hand

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ALL-STAR IN L.A. FLASHBACK: 1983

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

58 | NBA All-Star 2018

NBA PHOTOS (2); ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

By the time the 1983 All-Star Game rolled around, the Lakers had changed the narrative to their hard-lucked ways in the ’70s. The Lakers had already won two NBA Championships in the new decade and The Forum was now known as the Great Western Forum, led by their electric star Magic Johnson who ushered in the era of “Showtime.” Joining Johnson in the 1983 All-Star Game was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who despite his age (35) and years of NBA service (14) was still every bit the unstoppable force on the low post. As it has been at every previous All-Star in Los Angeles, the Lakers had three representatives at the game, the third in 1983 being Jamaal Wilkes. Nicknamed “Silk,” Wilkes was a smooth-scoring forward. Once again the East squad had its share of Celtics. This time it would be Larry Bird and Robert Parish. Bird and Magic had cemented a rivalry from their days in college, where the two battled in what might be the greatest NCAA Championship game in 1979, when Magic’s Michigan State Spartans defeated Bird’s undefeated Indiana State Sycamores. The two stars would re-energize and re-ignite the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, but Magic and Bird had yet to meet in the Finals. With all the attention on the two upstarts that would dominate the NBA for the decade, it would be two longtime veterans who made their marks in the ’70s that stole the spotlight. Before tip-off, Marvin Gaye sang the National Anthem, and his rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” is still considered one of the most moving performances. The soul-filled take on the song made you forget that it was the pregame National Anthem, as the Forum crowd was moved into claps to accompany Gaye’s stirring vocals. It would be tough to top Gaye’s performance, but Julius “Dr. J” Erving, who first made his mark as a high-flying forward of the ABA and was in his seventh season wowing NBA arenas with his aerial game, was up to the task. Bird showed all-around brilliance with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists, but Erving was breathtaking in a 25-point performance that was filled with swooping forays to the rim and punctuated with a posterizing dunk over Artis Gilmore, a 7-2 Hall of Fame big man known for his shotblocking prowess. Dr. J led all scorers and propelled the East to a 132-123 win, which earned him MVP honors. Unfortunately for Angelenos, Erving’s virtuoso game would be a preview of things to come as the Philadelphia 76ers, led by Erving and fellow All-Star Moses Malone would return to Los Angeles to take two games in a four-game Finals sweep for the 1983 title.

NBA All-Star 2018 | 59

DAVID DOW/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

60 | NBA All-Star 2018

WE BEFORE ME

By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Whenever I hear people question why athletes are actively protesting horrific social injustices I can’t help but think about what those same people would have said at other turning points in history. If they were living in 1850 America, would they have been abolitionists or would they have just said, “That’s the way things are, nothing can be done.” If they were living in 1920 would they have argued for women’s suffrage or shrugged and said, “Not yet!” If Japan had not bombed Pearl Harbor, would they have said, “Stay out of it, not our problem.” The foggy distance of history is a cozy Snuggie that allows us all the comforting illusion that, given the opportunity, we would have been heroic social justice warriors on the right side of history, eager to shout, “I am Spartacus!”

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Yet, we are given that opportunity every day. The person who can’t find a cause to fight for or an injustice to fight against, isn’t paying attention. If they were, we wouldn’t have social injustices. We would all be toiling under a bright sun in the fields of righteousness on a daily basis. History is always in the making, it’s always scrambling to define itself in the now, and it’s always asking us to choose sides in order to create the future we want. Whether that future will be good or bad depends on how many of us line up on which side. As the old saying warns, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Which is why it is so important that professional athletes seize the leadership role and speak up about the issues that concern them. NBA players, coaches and management have been especially active in accepting that leadership role and voicing their condemnation of actions and policies that contradict the spirit of the U.S. Constitution’s mandate of equal treatment and opportunity for all. We need to continue to help guide people to the good side in order to stop evil from prospering. If not us, who?

lived so long in an information-deprived bubble that has distorted their ability to think rationally, leaving them to make choices based on fear of losing what they have rather than a hope for a better future. They fear losing financial stability, losing comforting traditions, losing social status through a changing ethnic balance. These fears are not always baseless, though the emotional response to these fears is often counter-productive, making matters worse. This consuming fear allows people to ignore problems all around them, even problems that are directly harmful to them. Generally, people don’t want to know about global warming or police shooting unarmed innocent people or systemic racism because then they’d feel pressure to do something about it. Overwhelmed by trying to figure out what to do, they do nothing. But that makes them feel guilty, so, to feel better, they have to deny there is a problem. It’s like driving past a car accident with the bloody injured screaming for help—and not stopping. “Hey, I’m not a doctor,” they might say as an excuse and then turn up the radio to drown out the screams.

Why Are Athletes So Much More Politically Involved Now? That blaring radio has never been more ear-shattering than now. The X-Files may be right that “the truth is out there,” but that doesn’t mean we want to pursue it. Most people seem content to accept the misleading statements, half-truths, and outright lies that emanate from Washington, D.C. and some heavily biased media outlets. Our aggressive rejection of legitimate news because it doesn’t align with our political biases or social agenda is a greater threat to democracy than any terrorists. For democracy to prosper, an informed populace is necessary in order to make rational choices. Someone has to get the truth to that populace, even if they don’t want it. If not us, who?

You Aren’t Politicians, You Just Play a Sport

Abdul-Jabbar, along with (L-R) David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning, Bill Russell and Dikembe Mutombo (pictured at the 2017 NBA Awards Show) represent a fraternity of Hall of Fame centers who have contributed to many social causes in the world.

What Is the Purpose of Athletes Protesting?

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MICHAEL J. LEBRECHT II/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Injustice thrives in ignorance. So, the main objective of protest is to communicate uncomfortable truths to people who are unaware or resistant to hear them. We are like doctors telling a sick patient to stop eating fried foods because it’s killing them, but the patient refuses to listen, despite all the scientific facts, simply because it’s too difficult to change their destructive behavior. Scientific experiments detailed in a 2017 New Yorker article, “Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds,” show that once a person forms an opinion, they are more likely to reject any facts that prove them wrong. People have the “illusion of explanatory depth,” meaning they think they know more than they actually do. Clearly, the biggest obstacle in solving social problems is convincing people there is a problem. This is because they’ve

Since the 1960s, whenever I dared to express a political opinion, some people have told me, “Stick to basketball.” That is what people are telling athletes now. It’s a feeble but familiar attempt to rob them of their voice, to marginalize them, to infantilize them. This is particularly offensive to NBA players, 82 percent of whom are people of color, because it is the same language used to keep us invisible during the civil rights movement. I’m reminded of how Ralph Ellison described it in his novel Invisible Man: “I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. ...When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves or figments of their imagination, indeed, everything and anything except me.” Sadly, this attempt to silence our voice applies to all people who are oppressed: women, the LGBTQ community, immigrants, Muslims, Jews, and others. People are more willing to accept a famous actress in a scoop neckline making an impassioned speech about inequity while clutching a golden statue, than a sweaty athlete taking a compassionate knee to protest social injustice. To the sports audience, taking a knee is equivalent to accusing them of complicity, either though action or through ignorance. Yes, professional athletes make their living playing a kid’s sport.

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risk their career in order to speak out, this carries a lot of weight and is more likely to have people take a serious look at what truths they are communicating.

What Specifically Are Athletes Protesting?

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JON SOOHOO/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Not every athlete has the same message and it does an injustice to lump them all together as if they shared a single hive mind. But in general, athletes like LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick are calling attention to systemic racism that has only gotten worse in the last year. Systemic racism means that there is inequity built into the way the governmental, law enforcement and judicial systems operate. The extent of how that inequity is manifested in everything from job opportunities, to education, to voting has been extensively documented by hundreds of studies. The facts prove that if you’re black in America, you are at a severe disadvantage from birth to death. You have a higher birth mortality rate, you have substandard education, you have discrimination in jobs, you are more likely to be incarcerated, you are more likely to be murdered, you have more health problems yet less access to health insurance and you will die younger. The issue that particularly galvanized athletes was the 2014 killing of an unarmed black man, Eric Garner, by New York City police. His last words as he was being choked by the police officer were, “I can’t breathe.” NBA players joined James, including Kyrie Irving, Jarrett Jack, Alan Anderson, Deron Williams and Kevin Garnett, to wear black warm-up T-shirts before a game with those words emblazoned in large white letters. Other players followed. The larger issue was, and still is, that Garner was only one of many unarmed African-Americans who were killed by the police. And, despite national outrage, marches and demonstrations, unarmed black people are killed by police at an alarming disproportion. Although blacks make up only 12.3 percent of the U.S. population, in In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President the first six months of 2016, they made up 32 percent Barack Obama. of unarmed people police killed. In the first six months of 2017, they made up 26 percent. According to a 2017 But they are also members of their communities, fathers, mothers, study in the journal Criminology & Public Policy, unarmed blacks sons, daughters, business people and religious congregants. They have as great a stake in the direction of the country as are twice as likely to be killed by police than unarmed whites. In everyone else. January 2018, tapes were released revealing a former assistant More important, athletes are role models for children. Polls police chief in Kentucky instructing a recruit to shoot black people, show that, after parents (92 percent), athletes (73 percent) are even juveniles. Simply put, the broken system puts black families the most admired people in the lives of children 10 to 17 years old. more at risk of dying than white families. That is an inequity that Ninety percent of those kids said that athletes teach them mostly no caring parent would tolerate. good things. That is a daunting responsibility. Athletes who use History has taught us that repression breeds rebellion, and the that exalted position only to sell sports drinks, sportswear and more politicians attempt to repress free speech, the more of a fast food are shirking that responsibility. We owe more to those responsibility athletes have to champion it. kids—and to their parents. Athletes also exert some influence on the adult population. In part, this influence comes from having a national platform of What’s the Downside of Athletes Speaking Out? millions of viewers and fans. But another part of their influence is Compared with what we lose when they don’t, very little. Some that, to the general population, they are viewed the same as pop people may threaten to stop watching the games or buying stars and actors—wealthy, spoiled, indulgent and frivolous. When tickets, but that has always been the short-term reaction of the athletes show they are passionate enough about something to fearful. Lower ratings in the NFL have been blamed on athletes

A Day of Remembrance. Join Us. April 4, 2018. The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel will culminate its year-long tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 50th anniversary of his assassination.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? We push the necessary buttons, move some immovable walls and focus on positive social change.

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Abdul-Jabbar stresses how important it is for current and former players (pictured with fellow Laker legends Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal) to keep being a visible voice to the social injustices in the world.

protesting during the national anthem, but evidence suggests the ratings are the result of increasing cord-cutters, which has affected all television shows. In all probability, those people will eventually return because they prefer the dynamics of football and basketball to esoteric thrills of curling. Yet, even if they didn’t, it is better to do the right thing than pander to those unable to enjoy a slam dunk because someone used their First Amendment right.

Where Do We Go from Here?

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time NBA champion, six-time NBA MVP and the NBA’s All-Time leading scorer. Abdul-Jabbar is a New York Times best-selling author and columnist for The Hollywood Reporter and The Guardian. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. His latest book is titled, Becoming Kareem (Hachette Book Group). The author’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its teams.

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

All social change takes place over a long period of time that includes three stages. The first stage is a small intense group shouting to the indifferent masses about an injustice. That injustice seems so outrageously against tradition that this group is actively ignored and ridiculed. The second stage is when the rationality of that small group’s message has seeped into society long enough to make sense to more thoughtful people unafraid of change. That larger group then organizes in an effort to convince the rest of the resistant population. The third stage is that enough people are now convinced that concrete changes are implemented. Today, we are on the cusp between the second and third stages. The good news is that most people, when confronted by the suffering of others, will eventually act with compassion and determination to end that suffering.

The official motto of the United States is e pluribus unum: “Out of many, one.” Coincidentally, this is also the unofficial motto of most sports teams. We strive to come together as individuals in order to form a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. We express our individuality, but with the goal of the whole team thriving. That’s what athletes are doing now when they speak out about social injustice. They are acting to insure all individual members of the team prosper so that the whole team flourishes. But we need to remember that the whole team includes not just the groups we personally belong to. We have to also be outspoken in our support of #MeToo, Time’s Up, the LGBTQ community, immigrants, religious groups and other groups who are oppressed. If not us, who?

ALL-STAR IN L.A. FLASHBACK: 2004

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (2); GARY DINEEN (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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SCOTT QUINTARD; JESSE D. GARRABRANT (2); NATHANIEL S. BUTLER (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

More than two decades would pass before All-Star would find its way back to Los Angeles, and much had changed in the basketball landscape. The Showtime Lakers dynasty passed but the franchise was in the midst of another golden run (the team had won three of the last four titles, led by the pairing of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant). The Clippers were not only sharing the basketball spotlight as the second NBA team in the city (the franchise moved up the coast from San Diego in the 1984-85 season), they were also sharing an arena with their citymates, as both teams played in Staples Center, one of the newest arenas in the NBA at the time. The weekend started off with a Rising Stars Challenge that, when all is said and done, might boast the most Hall of Famers. The Rookie squad was headlined by four lauded members from the 2003 NBA Draft in LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Sophomore team already featured one Hall of Famer in Yao Ming, and two others worthy of consideration in the future: Manu Ginobili and Amar’e Stoudemire. The Rookie team was heavily hyped with the quartet of players that currently boasts one 30,000-point scorer (LeBron), a 25,000-point member (Anthony), a 20,000-point clubber (Wade) and a 15,000-point man (Bosh), but in 2004 they were still fresh-faced newbs and the game proved that point. The Sophomores handily took care of the young upstarts, 142-118, with Stoudemire taking game MVP honors with a thenrecord 36 points. It would be tough for the main event on Sunday to match, but the Hall of Fame-filled All-Star rosters would be up to the

task. The Western Conference featured an enviable frontcourt of five 7-footers—O’Neal, Yao, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki—to go with Bryant and Ray Allen. The Eastern Conference was undersized compared to its counterpart, but the small ball core of Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter (who led all players in voting), Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce and Baron Davis would mean plenty of points in the open floor. The first half would be just that, as the East would take a sixpoint lead going into halftime on the strength of its smaller, more versatile lineup taking advantage of the game’s free-flowing format. As the West entered the intermission looking to turn things around, the Staples Center crowd was treated to Beyoncé taking the floor for a halftime performance that would rival the second half of basketball to come. Possibly inspired by the energetic show, the West came out on fire in the third quarter. Using its size advantage (besides the aforementioned quintet of 7-footers, it also had 6-9-and-over forwards Peja Stojakovic, Andrei Kirilenko and Brad Miller), the West outscored the East 45-37 in the third quarter and never looked back for a 136-132 victory. The West bigs all feasted against the smaller East foes, but it would be O’Neal who took the largest bite. His 24 points led all scorers and he collected 11 boards for good measure. As it would be for the fourth time in four tries, the Lakers would go on to the Finals in a year that they hosted All-Star (although this time they would lose to the Detroit Pistons).

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n r e h t u So

SCOTT CUNNINGHAM; JESSE D. GARRABRANT;ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; JORDAN JOHNSON; LAYNE MURDOCH (4); DAVID LIAM KYLE; BRIAN SEVALD/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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By Darryl Howerton #21

Where basketball stars are born and made

outhern California is well represented in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, with homegrown locals Russell Westbrook (Lawndale), James Harden (Lakewood), Klay Thompson (Rancho Santa Margarita), DeMar DeRozan (Compton), Paul George (Palmdale) and Kevin Love (born in Santa Monica with SoCal ties to his later teenage years) representing the region. You would have to go back to the NBA’s early years—the 1954 Game featured six New York City players— to find a region with as many NBA All-Stars as SoCal’s six this year. (The next closest? The 1971 Game featured five NYC players.)

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Walton into legends. As their tall tales grew in the early ’70s, the Lakers added the larger-than-life Wilt Chamberlain to this storied storyline, thereby giving Los Angeles a monopoly on most of the game’s biggest players, both literally and figuratively. But it was not until the 1980s, when another Midwesterner named Magic Johnson joined Kareem’s Lakers, that L.A. became the Showtime city for NBA stars everywhere. It was Magic and his charismatic ways that transformed Los Angeles into the All-Star’s summer home away from home. What better vacation destination could the stars engage in sun, shine and Showtime sessions than Magic’s version of Los Angeles, where the Lakers’ superstar guaranteed his NBA brethren they could participate in the best pickup games anywhere to be found. Johnson lured his pals Isiah Thomas, Mark Aguirre and others throughout the NBA, while elite five-star recruits were pulled by the stars’ gravity.

Magic Johnson (center) recruited stars like Isiah Thomas (left) and Mark Aguirre (right) to train in Los Angeles during offseasons.

Later generations influenced by Magic became perennial All-Stars, including Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

gym culture from his days as a player development trainer in the early 2000s. “What New York basketball was to playground culture is what L.A. basketball has become to gym culture nowadays.” In order to properly address this SoCal phenomenon, we must first begin at the beginning, in a time before the vaunted NBA pipeline was laid. In the ’50s, L.A. had no titles, no teams and only one homegrown perennial star—Hollywood-born and Newport Beachbred George Yardley—making an imprint on the League, as a six-time NBA All-Star in the ’50s for the Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons and Syracuse Nationals. It wasn’t until 1960 that the first embers of a future basketball hotbed began glowing. That year the high-flying Elgin Baylor and the Minneapolis Lakers moved West to team with rookie Jerry West in what soon became the Left Coast dynasty known as the Los Angeles Lakers. UCLA head coach John Wooden, who had brought his winning ways from the Midwest to Westwood in 1948, added to L.A.’s legacy by winning NCAA titles throughout the ’60s and ’70s as he developed giants Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill

“That’s when L.A. basketball got on the map as the best place to play pickup basketball in the world,” says Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was a UCLA teenager in 1983 when he first started playing in Magic’s Westwood games. “You’d have two games going constantly at the UCLA gym and the talent was unbelievable. You’d have Magic, Michael Cooper and Byron Scott from those Lakers championship teams. Kurt Rambis. A.C. Green. Even Kareem would be there. And you’d also have the Clippers there; UCLA players there; other pros from overseas and other leagues. And then there were always Magic’s guys from out of town who would help make these scrimmages the best pickup games in the world.” Just as it was commonplace to see Miller and his Bruins teammates vying for a spot in Magic’s pickup games, it was only natural to see prospects like 10-time All-Star Paul Pierce, who played in these pickup games as a teen in the mid-’90s. “I went from sneaking into Lakers games as a boy at the Forum in Inglewood to actually playing pickup games with Magic at UCLA,” says Pierce, who will be eligible for Hall of Fame induction in 2022. “Imagine that. Imagine how I must’ve felt as a teenager. “Thing is, after he retired and didn’t come around as much,

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ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; JENNIFER POTTHEISER; BILL BAPTIST/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Now just imagine if you added perennial All-Star Kawhi Leonard (Riverside) into the mix—had he not been injured most of this season—and SoCal could have boasted seven All-Stars this year. In the modern era, no other region comes close to that type of star-maker production. There is no disputing the fact that Los Angeles has become the basketball capital of the world, not only because of the influx of elite talent, but also because of the sheer volume of NBA players who make L.A. their second home, spending their summers in Southern California in unprecedented numbers. Those connected to the Los Angeles hoop summer scene estimate around 200 NBA players and aspiring pros spend most of their offseason in L.A. on an annual basis. “If you’re asking me whether a hundred NBA players come to work on their game in L.A. every summer, I’d say at least a hundred do that,” says Portland Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, an expert on Los Angeles

took off, thanks to Willis’ protégé Dino Smiley, who helped grow it, attracting local talent such as Pierce, Davis and Andre Miller in those early days. Later, The Drew would attract its national following during the 2011 NBA lockout when Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Kevin Durant, John Wall, Paul George and DeMar DeRozan became viral-video stars thanks to their highlights being replayed on growing socialmedia sites such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Amongst the NBA’s secret society, there were other pickup All-Star games that arose in a more private setting. Those games originated from NBA players who had befriended L.A. Gear/ACI International mogul Steven Jackson, the renowned “King of the Courtside” (named for his eight courtside seats) fan of the Lakers. NBA vets who had Jackson on speed dial would regularly stage their own invite-only All-Star games at Jackson’s Bel Air mansion, where he owns a Staples Center replicated court, in the midst of a shrine—complete with championship banners—that paid tribute to his hometown Lakers. “When we told our coaches about this gym that had six hoops in a Bel Air mansion, they asked us to see if we could host our shootarounds there,” says Al Harrington, a 16-year NBA vet. “That would allow us to avoid fighting the morning downtown traffic in L.A. It started out as a place to play summer basketball, but soon became our shootaround gym whenever we came to L.A. We’d practice there in Bel Air, rather than make the drive from our Marina Del Rey hotel to Staples Center.” In retrospect, you could literally draw a family tree, tracing the roots of L.A. offseason basketball to see how these Magic Johnson pickup games at UCLA later connected to A Midsummer Night’s Magic, Elgin Baylor (left) and Jerry West pioneered the tradition of big stars in Los Angeles. The Drew league, the Bel Air Staples Center secret society, as well as today’s most popular pickup spots: the UCLA pickup games that still take place current NBA players, future NBA players, future NBA coaches and in the hidden “Men’s Gym”; the Pepperdine University games, just assistants, too.” up the coast in Malibu; the Manhattan Beach Mira Costa High In time, these UCLA games spawned other All-Star getgames; the Calabasas High games for the San Fernando Valley togethers, like the Johnson-sponsored, charity-driven fundraiser NBA transplants; Santa Monica’s legendary St. Monica’s church titled A Midsummer Night’s Magic, a high-priced, black-tie dinner gymnasium, which started its own movement of sorts in L.A. that followed the celebrity-filled basketball game. grassroots basketball. During its 20-year run from 1985 to 2005, A Midsummer Night’s It was at St. Monica’s that Olshey ran the first agency-run draftMagic attracted all the NBA greats—everyone from Larry Bird to Michael Jordan—and gave its national-TV audience a glimpse into prep combine for super-agent Arn Tellem’s SFX clientele. When a dozen of Tellem’s prospects were selected in the 2001 NBA Draft— what these UCLA pickup games must’ve looked like. Before NBA nine in the first round—people around the League took notice of players took part in USA Basketball and outside of the All-Star his novel thinking and soon all the top agencies brought rookies Game every February, the only place to see an assembly of such to L.A. for spring-and-summer draft-prep work. talent would be at A Midsummer Night’s Magic in Los Angeles. “All the top agents in L.A.—Jeff Schwartz, Dan Fegan, even Bill It made L.A. basketball cool on a national level. Duffy up north—rented gyms and hired coaches to work with their Just as Magic’s League-sanctioned charity game drew more NBA stars out West every summer, other L.A. get-togethers gained prospects before the draft. “It became a value-added service that every agency had to prominence in their own right. have, which in turn, set off an arms race of coaches and players Los Angelenos congregated at the high-level, rec-league filling up gyms all over L.A.” games at The Drew—located at South Los Angeles’ Charles Drew The agencies would put the players up in Santa Monica hotels Junior High School—which started in 1973 by Alvin Willis as a way near the Third Street Promenade, giving the hoop transplants to teach life lessons to inner-city youth through basketball. But proximity to the UCLA and St. Monica’s gyms, while also giving it wasn’t until 1985 that “The Drew,” as it is affectionately known,

NBA PHOTOS (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

some of us vets took it upon ourselves to carry on the games, carry on his legacy in running that gym like only he could.” As a product of the city—born in Los Angeles, attended Crossroads High in Santa Monica before running point for the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion—Baron Davis agrees, even though he encountered an older, post-comeback Magic in the late ’90s when Davis regularly made his presence known in these scrimmages. “In those pickup games, I studied everything about Magic, whether he was playing or on the sidelines,” says Davis. “That is where I learned how to make a difference with my teammates—by combining Magic’s showmanship, with the energy he brings, with his leadership.” Todd Ramasar, Davis’ agent and former UCLA teammate, remembers how his friend gleaned knowledge from the other pros present, too, adding, “Baron was always asking questions of everybody there, interacting with people from all walks of life—

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SOCAL ALL-STARS List of Southern California players who were All-Stars. ALL-STAR Gilbert Arenas John Block Baron Davis DeMar DeRozan Mark Eaton Paul George Gail Goodrich James Harden Jrue Holiday Darrall Imhoff Dennis Johnson Kawhi Leonard Reggie Miller Bob Rule Reggie Theus Klay Thompson Bill Walton Russell Westbrook Paul Westphal Sidney Wicks George Yardley

BORN Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Compton Westminster Palmdale Los Angeles Los Angeles Chatsworth San Gabriel San Pedro Los Angeles Riverside Riverside Inglewood Los Angeles La Mesa Long Beach Torrance Los Angeles Hollywood

CITY (HS) Van Nuys (Grant) Glendale (Glendale) Santa Monica (Crossroads) Compton (Compton) Westminster (Westminster) Palmdale (Knight) Sun Valley (Sun Valley Poly) Lakewood (Artesia) North Hollywood (Campbell Hall) Alhambra (Alhambra) Compton (Dominguez) Riverside (King) Riverside (Riverside Poly) Riverside (Riverside Poly) Inglewood (Inglewood) Rancho Santa Margarita (Santa Margarita Catholic) La Mesa (Helix) Lawndale (Leuzinger) Redondo Beach (Aviation) L.A. (Hamilton) Newport Beach (Newport Harbor)

COLLEGE Arizona* USC UCLA USC UCLA Fresno State* UCLA Arizona State* UCLA Cal* Pepperdine San Diego State UCLA Colorado* UNLV* Washington* UCLA UCLA USC UCLA Stanford*

Compton (Dominguez) Compton (Dominguez) L.A. (Crenshaw) Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes) San Pedro (San Pedro) Inglewood (Inglewood) Pacific Palisades (Palisades) Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara)

CS Fullerton UCLA Notre Dame* UCLA Kansas* UCLA UCLA

ALL-STARS BORN ELSEWHERE, BUT SOCAL PREPPED Cedric Ceballos Tyson Chandler Marques Johnson Bill Laimbeer Willie Naulls Paul Pierce Kiki VanDeWeghe Jamaal Wilkes

Maui, HI Hanford Natchitoches, LA Boston, MA Dallas, TX Oakland, CA Wiesbaden, Germany Berkeley, CA

Source: Basketball-Reference Note: Cities are located in California unless otherwise noted; * denotes university located outside Southern California; Hall of Famers in boldface.

them the best of what L.A. had to offer. “Players would want to return to L.A. after their rookie years, wanting to work on their games in that same Southern California environment,” says Olshey. “That’s when everything changed from a rookie draft-prep combine to more of a player-development coaching atmosphere.” Next thing you know, half the players at the UCLA gym were outof-town pros, as opposed to the majority of local players before these mini-combines became so prevalent. As for the games at St. Monica, it was like heaven on earth for a gym rat in the 2000s. “You’d see $200,000 sports cars all parallel-parked outside the gyms, right next to each other, while inside you’d see AllStars and top players everywhere,” says Olshey, who would go on to become the Clippers GM in 2010 after being hired by Mike Dunleavy in 2004 from these St. Monica’s and UCLA playerdevelopment sessions. “Kobe Bryant would show up with a case of Gatorade he just bought for everybody at the local 7-11. Tracy McGrady was another regular. Coach Tim Grgurich would come in with Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Amar’e Stoudemire and whoever else he had with him from the Suns. Or years later, with the Trail Blazers. “And we’d welcome the young players, too. James Harden came there when he was a teenager. We’d let Trevor Ariza come when he was a high school junior because Kobe took an interest in mentoring him. Trevor’s Westchester High teammate Amir

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Johnson would come too, back when he was a sophomore.” The player-development coaches would make sure they had somebody there—normally a student from UCLA—to mop up the floor when players dripped sweat on the court. The NBA players were always great about leaving a $100 tip for the hustling teen. It was that kind of camaraderie that helped L.A. grow as a basketball pipeline to greatness. The NBA stars got top-flight competition amongst themselves. The NBA prospects got great player-development coaching. The college and high school got lifelong mentorship from some of the world’s greatest players. If you were lucky enough to gain access, you were treated to an unofficial All-Star game. In a nutshell, that is how L.A. became the hoops hotbed it is today. Nowadays, the range of player-development coaching has since expanded, with even more NBA players making summer treks to L.A. on an annual basis. Peak Performance Project—a.k.a. P3, the world’s premier sports science lab, located in Santa Barbara—is so popular with NBA teams that it already has run data assessments on 46 percent of the NBA’s 2017-18 opening-day rosters, with 114 players coming into P3’s performance center in Summer 2017 alone. “There is no doubt Los Angeles is the center of the world when it comes to basketball,” says Dr. Marcus Elliott, who opened P3 11 years ago and has seen business grow exponentially the past three years with half the NBA teams sending players to Santa

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Magic Johnson’s annual Midsummer Night Magic charity game attracted basketball and entertainment’s biggest stars to Los Angeles every summer.

76 | NBA All-Star 2018

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (2); NOAH GRAHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Barbara, and the League itself working in conjunction with P3 at the NBA Draft Combine. “There are a lot of reasons why that is so, and we are a part of the reason. But I think a lot has to do with the lifestyle, the energy and just everything Los Angeles has to offer that makes L.A. the epicenter.” It is one thing to maximize players’ workouts and conditioning, but it is quite another to successfully treat injuries using P3’s innovative high-tech, high-predictive methods. “When you are able to make accurate predictions regarding injuries that are proven in time with 28 and 30 year olds,” says Elliott, “teams are more likely to ask you to work with their rookies when they first get into the League, so that they don’t deal with these same problems later in their careers.” You have the Los Angeles teams—both the Clippers and Lakers—hosting pickup games themselves at their team facilities, seeing how it is a good idea to welcome good competition to their home gym for their own players. You also have All-NBA talent—people such as Harden, Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets last summer—bringing their teammates en masse to L.A. for daily workout sessions at the UCLA gym before they go off to training camp together. In return, it should be noted, two of UCLA’s most proud alumni— Westbrook and Love—matched record donations to the school’s newly-opened, $35 million Mo Ostin Basketball Center, which features among other things Russell Westbrook Court and the Kevin Love Athletic Performance Center. But for those who want to see the old UCLA gym in all its pickup glory all one has to do is search YouTube and type the words and type the words “LeBron” and “UCLA” or “pickup.”

And there you will see UCLA pickup basketball as if you were there in person. As a matter of fact, do that for any player—James Harden, Paul George, Lonzo Ball—and you are bound to see your favorite player participating in L.A. summer games at one time or another. This dynamic is best portrayed in long-form by watching HBO’s 2014 documentary on Kevin Durant called The Offseason, and you’ll get a close-up look at the L.A. summer hoops scene as the doc shows: Durant’s summer rental home in Beverly Hills; his individual training sessions at the aforementioned Bel Air gym and UCLA gyms; the Thunder summer training camp at UCLA, with some bonus outdoors footage of Durant and L.A. native Westbrook running sand dunes together. With all these amenities, it really is no surprise how L.A. steals the NBA’s stars every summer. Take LeBron James, for instance. The four-time NBA MVP just bought his second L.A. home in December—a $23 million Brentwood mansion to go with his other $20 million Brentwood mansion. Go figure. “There is just something about training in L.A.,” says retired 15-time All-Star Kevin Garnett, who made his offseason home in Malibu more than a decade ago. “There is just something about running on a beach in L.A. It’s a feeling and workout you can’t get nowhere else.” Cleveland All-Star forward Kevin Love, whose uncle was literally one of The Beach Boys, knows all too well what L.A. offers. That is why he spends most of his summers in L.A., dating back to his SoCal AAU and NCAA basketball days at UCLA. “It goes beyond working out and playing hoops,” says Love. “I just love coming out here. It’s part of the reason my parents moved here. “I’ve always been that way, even back in Minnesota. I used to come out here after every season with my coach (Kurt Rambis) to watch playoff games back when the Lakers were making the Finals every year. “If you wanted to take your game to the next level back then, you had to come to L.A. to see for yourself how the game was played. I would study the execution of the Lakers’ offense because they ran the same triangle offense that we did. I’d study Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom since they played my position. It was cool to sit with a head coach who’d been in L.A. for awhile that won numerous championships here as both a player and coach.” In the 21st century alone—if we count Love—the region would get credit for producing 10 SoCal born-and-bred AllStars in 18 seasons. In contrast, during the previous 49-year span in the 20th century, dating back to the 1951 Game, only a dozen locals played in at least one All-Star Game. Only 12 in 49 years! Contrast that with today’s 10-All-Stars-in-18-years dialogue. No fake news. Just facts. “When you look at all the L.A. All-Stars and the 100-plus players that come to L.A. every summer, it really is amazing to see how all of this grew from those Magic Johnson pickup games at the UCLA Men’s Gym,” says Olshey. “He really did start quite a movement that’s still going strong today.”

OPTIMISTS NEVER QUIT. Russell Westbrook was cut from his high school basketball team. But he didn’t quit. Instead, he doubled down on what makes him truly special: his superhuman tenacity. This mentality led him to UCLA, and two Final Fours. To the NBA Finals, and an MVP award. And his tenacity inspires beyond basketball. Westbrook’s Why Not Foundation supports education programs, and encourages kids to never give up. Relentless. Odds-defying. UCLA Optimists show the world what determination can do.

UCLA.EDU/OPTIMISTS

ALL-STAR IN L.A. FLASHBACK: 2011

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

78 | NBA All-Star 2018

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; DAVID SHERMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Los Angeles played host to the All-Star Game for the fifth time in 2011, and L.A. basketball was hitting yet another high note as the NBA celebrated its 60th All-Star classic. The Lakers were coming off back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010 and the Clippers were turning a corner with the debut of Blake Griffin, who would be selected as an All-Star as a rookie and would go on to win Rookie of the Year that season. Kobe Bryant was selected as an All-Star for the 13th time in his career and he was joined by teammate Pau Gasol. True to its name, the Rising Stars Challenge featured a few players who would go to win MVPs, make All-NBA Teams and be All-Star fixtures. The Sophomore team was headlined by future two-time MVP Stephen Curry, a player who would eventually challenge Curry for the Maurice Podoloff Trophy in James Harden, and a perennial All-Star in DeMar DeRozan. Not to be outdone, the Rookies had a trio of All-Star regulars in John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Griffin. In a game usually dominated by the more seasoned team, the Rookies flipped the script, rising above the second-year guys, 148-140. Wall was named MVP for his tablesetting performance of 22 assists to go with 12 points. His college teammate at Kentucky, Cousins, was the primary benefactor, scoring 33 points along with netting 14 rebounds. The highlight of All-Star Saturday was the Slam Dunk Contest, as all eyes were on what Clippers’ super rookie Griffin could unfurl in a competition that was geared toward him. After sitting out his entire first year with an injury, Griffin’s delayed rookie season was a dunk-filled highlight reel. Using a rare combination of grace and power, Griffin used his big frame and otherworldly athleticism to jump over and through opposing defenders on his way to the basket. Although he was the favorite, Griffin was given some competition from JaVale McGee, Serge Ibaka and hometown kid

DeRozan for the title. It wasn’t until Griffin’s showstopping final dunk, where he jumped over a car off a pass from teammate and L.A. native Baron Davis, did he ice the victory. In the senior game on Sunday, the East entered the game as favorites. The roster was headlined by seven players from either the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics, two teams that went on to represent the East in the Finals for the first half of the decade. Miami had its big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, while Boston had its championship core of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. For good measure, the team had eventual season MVP Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and Amar’e Stoudemire. The West had its fair share of established stars in Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant joining newly minted All-Stars Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Griffin. The West came out firing, building a 12-point lead after two quarters. The halftime show featured Rihanna doing a set with Drake and Kanye West, closing with “All of the Lights.” The song inspired the East as it turned on the wattage in the second half, making a furious comeback in the fourth quarter that fell short. The East was led by Stoudemire and James, who each poured in 29 points, with LeBron adding in 12 rebounds and 10 dimes for a triple-double. At the time, there was a debate between the older and more accomplished Bryant and the up-and-coming James as to which player was the best in the NBA. Bryant let his opinion on that matter be known. with a game-high 37 points, including a statement-making breakaway dunk that LeBron failed to chase down and block. Kevin Durant added 34 for the West and Gasol contributed 17 points and 7 rebounds, but it was Bryant’s personal All-Star best scoring game that netted him his fourth All-Star MVP. The streak of the Lakers appearing in the Finals on the year they hosted All-Star came to an end.

NBA All-Star 2018 | 79

This flu season, consider a flu shot designed specifically for adults 65 and older.1 TO FISH AT MY FAVORITE SPOT

As you age, your immune system may weaken. Traditional flu shots may not work as well for older adults compared to younger adults.2,3 FLUAD is a flu shot for adults 65 and older that contains an immune-enhancing ingredient and is proven to provide a strong immune response to help protect against the flu.1

Learn more at FLUAD.com

It’s time to ask your doctor or pharmacist about FLUAD Important Safety Information What is FLUAD? FLUAD is a vaccine that helps protect against the flu. FLUAD is for people aged 65 years and older. Vaccination with FLUAD may not protect all people who receive the vaccine. Who should not get FLUAD? You should not get FLUAD if you have had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine in the past, including egg protein, or a severe reaction to a previous influenza vaccine. Who may not be able to get FLUAD? Tell your health care provider if you: • Have ever had Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness) after getting a flu shot. The decision to give FLUAD should be made by your health care provider, based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks. • Have an allergy to rubber latex. FLUAD does not contain latex, but the tip caps of the prefilled syringes contain natural rubber latex, which may cause an allergic reaction in persons sensitive to latex. What if I have a weakened immune system? Tell your health care provider if you have problems with your immune system, as your immune response to the vaccine may be reduced.

Seqirus Inc.

Holly Springs, North Carolina 27540

Designed for adults 65 and older

What are the most common side effects of FLUAD? • Pain or tenderness where you got the shot • Muscle aches • Headache • Fatigue These are not all of the possible side effects of FLUAD. You can ask your health care provider for a complete list of possible side effects. Ask your health care provider for advice about any side effects that concern you. You may report side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) by calling 1-800-822-7967 or by going to http://vaers.hhs.gov. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Seqirus Inc. at 1-855-358-8966 or VAERS at 1-800-822-7967 and http://vaers.hhs.gov. For more information, please see Brief Summary of Prescribing Information for FLUAD on the following pages. References: 1. FLUAD [package insert]. Holly Springs, NC: Seqirus Vaccines Limited; 2017. 2. Reber AJ, Chirkova T, Kim JH, et al. Immunosenescence and challenges of vaccination against influenza in the aging population. Aging Dis. 2012;3(1):68-90. 3. Goodwin K, Viboud C, Simonsen L. Antibody response to influenza vaccination in the elderly: a quantitative review. Vaccine. 2006;24(8):1159-1169.

June 2017

US/FLUD/0617/0038

FLUAD (Influenza Vaccine, Adjuvanted) Suspension for Intramuscular Injection 2017-2018 Formula Initial U.S. Approval: 2015

Table 1. Percentages of Subjects ≥ 65 Years of Age With Solicited Local and Systemic Adverse Reactions in Days 1-7 After Administration of FLUAD or AGRIFLU (a U.S. Licensed Comparator) NCT01162122 Study 1

BRIEF SUMMARY:

FLUAD (Na=3418-3496) Percentage

AGRIFLU (Na=3420-3488) Percentage

Any

25.0

12.2

Moderateb

3.9

1.9

Severec

0.3

0.2

Any

21.1

11.2

Moderate

3.0

1.0

Severe

0.1

0.2

Any

1.2

0.5

25 to ≤ 50 mm

1.1

0.5

51 to ≤ 100 mm

0.2

<0.1

See package insert for full prescribing information. 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

FLUAD is an inactivated influenza vaccine indicated for active immunization against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine. FLUAD is approved for use in persons 65 years of age and older. Approval is based on the immune response elicited by FLUAD. Data demonstrating a decrease in influenza disease after vaccination with FLUAD are not available. [see Clinical Studies (14)]

Local Injection site Pain

Tenderness

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

Do not administer FLUAD to anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) to any component of the vaccine, including egg protein [see Description (11)], or to a previous influenza vaccine.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Guillain-Barré Syndrome If Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has occurred within 6 weeks of receipt of prior influenza vaccine, the decision to give FLUAD should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks. The 1976 swine influenza vaccine was associated with an elevated risk of GBS. Evidence for a causal relationship of GBS with other influenza vaccines is inconclusive; if an excess risk exists, it is probably slightly more than 1 additional case per 1 million persons vaccinated. [see References (1)] 5.2 Preventing and Managing Allergic Reactions Appropriate medical treatment and supervision must be available to manage possible anaphylactic reactions following administration of the vaccine. 5.3 Latex The tip caps of the prefilled syringes contain natural rubber latex which may cause allergic reactions in latex sensitive individuals. [see Description (11)] 5.4 Altered Immunocompetence The immune response to FLUAD in immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may be lower than in immunocompetent individuals. [see Concurrent Use With Immunosuppressive Therapies (7.2)] 5.5 Syncope Syncope (fainting) may occur in association with administration of injectable vaccines including FLUAD. Ensure procedures are in place to avoid injury from falling associated with syncope. 5.6 Limitations of Vaccine Effectiveness Vaccination with FLUAD may not protect all vaccine recipients against influenza disease.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine and may not reflect rates observed in clinical practice. Solicited adverse reactions were assessed in a multicenter, observerblind, randomized controlled study (Study 1) conducted in the United States, Colombia, Panama and the Philippines. The safety analysis set included 3545 FLUAD recipients and 3537 AGRIFLU (Influenza Vaccine) recipients. The enrolled subject population in Study 1 was 65 to 97 years of age (mean 72 years) and 64% were female. Within each treatment group, 53% were Asian, 28% were Caucasian, 18% were Hispanic, 1% were Black, and fewer than 1% each were Native American/Alaskan, Pacific Islander/Hawaiian, or Other. Solicited local (injection site) and systemic adverse reactions were collected from subjects in Study 1 who completed a symptom diary card for seven days following vaccination. The reported frequencies of solicited local and systemic adverse events from Study 1 are presented in Table 1.

Erythema

Induration

Swelling

> 100 mm

0.0

Any

1.3

0.5

25 to ≤ 50 mm

1.0

0.5

51 to ≤ 100 mm

0.3

0.0

> 100 mm

0.0

Any

1.2

0.4

25 to ≤ 50 mm

1.0

0.4

51 to ≤ 100 mm

0.2

<0.1

> 100 mm

<0.1

0.0

Systemic Myalgia

Fatigue

Headache

Arthralgia

Chills

Diarrhea

Fever

Any

14.7

9.7

Moderate

2.6

1.8

Severe

0.3

0.7

Any

13.3

10.4

Moderate

3.1

2.4

Severe

0.4

0.6

PLTd

0.0

<0.1

Any

13.2

11.2

Moderate

3.0

2.6

Severe

0.4

0.6

PLT

0.0

<0.1

Any

8.5

7.8

Moderate

1.6

Severe

0.2

0.6

Any

6.7

4.7

Moderate

1.5

1.2

Severe

0.3

PLT

<0.1

0.0

Any

4.8

4.5

Moderate

1.3

0.9

Severe

0.3

0.2

PLT

<0.1

Any

3.6

3.4

1.8

1.7

1.3

0.4

0.1

0.0

≥ 38.0°C to ≤ 38.4°C ≥ 38.5°C to ≤ 38.9°C 39.0°C to ≤ 40.0°C ≥ 40.0°C

(cont)

Systemic (cont from previous page)

Nausea

Vomiting

Any

2.9

2.8

Moderate

0.4

0.6

Severe

0.1

PLT

<0.1

0.0

Any

1.4

1.7

Moderate

0.4

0.5

Severe

<0.1

0.1

PLT

<0.1

0.0

N = number of subjects with safety data.

Moderate: pain, tenderness, myalgia, fatigue, headache, arthralgia, chills, nausea, vomiting defined as “some limitation in normal daily activity”, diarrhea defined as “4 to 5 stools a day”.

Severe: pain, tenderness, myalgia, fatigue, headache, arthralgia, chills, nausea, vomiting defined as “unable to perform normal daily activity”, diarrhea defined as “6 or more watery stools a day”.

Potentially life threatening (PLT) reaction defined as requiring emergency room visit or hospitalization.

Unsolicited Adverse Events (AEs): The clinical safety of FLUAD was assessed in fifteen (15) randomized, controlled studies. The total safety population in these trials included 10,952 adults 65 years of age and older, comprising 5,754 who received FLUAD and 5,198 who received other US licensed influenza vaccines. The percentage of subjects with an unsolicited AE within 30 days following vaccination was similar between vaccine groups (16.9% FLUAD vs. 18.0% active comparator). Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) and Deaths: In Study 1, in which subjects were followed for SAEs and deaths for one year following vaccination (N=3,545 FLUAD, N=3,537 AGRIFLU), the percentages of subjects with an SAE were similar between vaccine groups (7% FLUAD vs. 7% AGRIFLU). Four SAEs (1 FLUAD and 3 AGRIFLU) were assessed as related to study vaccination over one year of observation and 2 of these occurred (1 FLUAD and 1 AGRIFLU) within 21 days following study vaccination. There were 98 deaths (n=52 FLUAD, n=46 AGRIFLU) over one year of which none occurred within the first 21 days following vaccination. In 14 additional randomized, controlled studies, SAEs were collected over a 3 to 4-week period in 4 studies, over a 8-week period in 1 study, and over a 6-month period in 9 studies (N= 2,209 FLUAD, N=1,661 US licensed influenza vaccines). The percentages of subjects with an SAE within 30 days (1.1% FLUAD vs. 1.8% AGRIFLU) or within 6 months (4.3% FLUAD vs. 5.9% AGRIFLU) were similar between vaccine groups. The percentages of deaths within 30 days (0.3% FLUAD vs. 0.6% active comparator) or within 6 months (1.0% FLUAD vs. 1.5% active comparator) were also similar. Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs): Rates of new onset neuroinflammatory and immune mediated diseases were assessed in a post hoc analysis of the 15 randomized controlled studies over the time periods specified above for SAEs. The percentage of subjects with an AESI at any time after vaccination was similar between vaccine groups (0.9% FLUAD vs. 0.9% active comparator). There were no notable imbalances for specific AESIs. Safety of Annual Revaccination: In 5 of the randomized, controlled trials, subjects were followed for SAEs and deaths for 6 months following revaccination (N=492 FLUAD, N=330 US licensed and non-US licensed influenza vaccines). After the second annual vaccination, the percentages of subjects with an SAE were similar between vaccine groups (6.1% FLUAD vs. 5.5% comparator influenza vaccines); 23 deaths (n=17 FLUAD, n=6 comparator influenza vaccines) were reported. Causes of death included cardiovascular events, malignancy, trauma, gastrointestinal disorders, and respiratory failure. Clinical characteristics of the deaths, including the variable causes, timing since vaccination, and underlying medical conditions, do not provide evidence for a causal relationship with FLUAD. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse events have been spontaneously reported during post-approval use of FLUAD in Europe and other regions since 1997.

Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to the vaccine. Blood and lymphatic system disorders: Thrombocytopenia (some cases were severe with platelet counts less than 5,000 per mm3), lymphadenopathy General disorders and administration site conditions: Extensive swelling of injected limb lasting more than one week, injection site cellulitis-like reactions (some cases of swelling, pain, and redness extending more than 10 cm and lasting more than 1 week) Immune system disorders: Allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock, anaphylaxis and angioedema Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Muscular weakness Nervous system disorders: Encephalomyelitis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, convulsions, neuritis, neuralgia, paraesthesia, syncope, presyncope Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Generalized skin reactions including erythema multiforme, urticaria pruritus or non-specific rash Vascular disorders: Vasculitis with transient renal involvement

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Concomitant Use With Other Vaccines There are no data to assess the concomitant administration of FLUAD with other vaccines. If FLUAD is to be given at the same time as other injectable vaccine(s), the vaccine(s) should be administered at different injection sites. Do not mix FLUAD with any other vaccine in the same syringe. 7.2 Concurrent Use With Immunosuppressive Therapies Immunosuppressive or corticosteroid therapies may reduce the immune response to FLUAD.

8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Category B: A reproductive and developmental toxicity study has been performed in rabbits with a dose level that was approximately 15 times the human dose based on body weight. The study revealed no evidence of impaired female fertility or harm to the fetus due to FLUAD. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this vaccine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. In a reproductive and developmental toxicity study, the effect of FLUAD on embryo-fetal and post-natal development was evaluated in pregnant rabbits. Animals were administered FLUAD by intramuscular injection twice prior to gestation, during the period of organogenesis (gestation day 7) and later in pregnancy (gestation day 20), 0.5 mL (45 mcg)/rabbit/occasion (approximately 15-fold excess relative to the adult human dose based on body weight). No adverse effects on mating, female fertility, pregnancy, embryo-fetal development, or post-natal development were observed. There were no vaccine-related fetal malformations or other evidence of teratogenesis. 8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of FLUAD in the pediatric population has not been established. 8.5 Geriatric Use Safety and immunogenicity of FLUAD have been evaluated in adults 65 years of age and older. [See Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Studies (14)] FLUAD is a registered trademark of Seqirus Inc. Manufactured by: Seqirus Vaccines Limited, An affiliate of: Seqirus Inc., Holly Springs, NC 27540, USA 1-855-358-8966

TEAM LEBRON PAGE 84 TEAM LEBRON COACHES PAGE 112 TEAM STEPHEN PAGE 114 TEAM STEPHEN COACHES PAGE 138 ALL-STAR SCORECARD PAGE 140

MTN DEW KICKSTART RISING STARS PAGE 142

West All-Star top vote-getter, Stephen Curry

NOAH GRAHAM; DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

East All-Star top vote-getter, LeBron James

JBL THREE-POINT CONTEST PAGE 162

VERIZON SLAM DUNK PAGE 170

TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE PAGE 174

RULES AND OFFICIALS PAGE 182 NBA All-Star 2018 | 83

84 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Forward Height: 6-8 Weight: 250 Birthdate: 12-30-84 High School: St. Vincent-St. Mary (OH) Year in NBA: 15th All-Star: 14th

DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

t this point, can anyone imagine a world in which LeBron James is not at an All-Star Game? Does anyone remember a time before his presence every February was a given? Now, in his 15th season in the League, James is appearing in his 14th All-Star Game, matching the number of selections earned by Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Jerry West, and getting him closer to the most-ever territory currently occupied by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 19. One thing this season has thus far proven is that LeBron shows no signs of slowing down: He looks, incredibly, still in his prime at the age of 33. While averaging nearly 27 points per game going into the All-Star break, James has also been putting up career-bests in assists and blocks, and nearing his peak numbers in most other major statistical categories. With the many new faces on the Cavsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roster this season, James has taken it upon himself to keep Cleveland near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. LeBron will likely hear lots of extra love from the fans in Los Angeles at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All-Star, but around the world, we all continue to be in awe of his continued dominance.

LEBRON JAMES

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DEMARCUS COUSINS* Position: Center Height: 6-11 Weight: 270 Birthdate: 8-13-90 College: Kentucky Year in NBA: 8th All-Star: 4th

* Injured, will not be playing

86 | NBA All-Star 2018

SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

s much as we hear about the game trending toward the little guys, how it’s the three-point gunner’s world and we’re all just living in it, DeMarcus Cousins is here to smash all of your preconceptions about basketball. Cousins, or “Boogie” as he is affectionately known, was once again beasting in the paint, while stretching the floor and being an all-around game-changer on both ends before an injury ended his season. Some questioned how the New Orleans frontcourt would work by pairing Cousins alongside Anthony Davis, but the Boogie and Brow show was flourishing, a combo that proved to be both a natural fit and aesthetically pleasing, like peanut butter and jelly. They have the Pelicans challenging for a playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference, proving that sometimes nothing tops size and talent. This season, Cousins averaged 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds, numbers any general manager would lust over. It’s kind of crazy that at 27, Cousins is in his eighth year in the League and still may be a bit underrated. The Pelicans’ center has already proven so many wrong that it would be folly to doubt his promise to overcome this injury.

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ANTHONY DAVIS Position: Forward-Center Height: 6-10 Weight: 253 Birthdate: 3-11-93 College: Kentucky Year in NBA: 6th All-Star: 5th

88 | NBA All-Star 2018

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

t would be fair to say that Anthony Davis ushered in the “Unicorn” era when he arrived in the NBA in 2012. After winning a national championship at Kentucky earlier that year—while being named the consensus national player of the year— AD brought his revolutionary skill set to New Orleans and helped change the way we think about big men. As an absolutely dominant defensive player who not only thrived in the pick and roll on offense, but had the footwork and dribbling skills to create his own shots, Davis was a clear franchise player from the get-go. Now, in the middle of his sixth season, he has become a three-point threat as well, shooting close to 35 percent from long range. The Brow is coming into All-Star on a tear, exemplified by two back-to-back mid-January Pelicans wins against the Knicks and Celtics in which Davis went for 48 and 45 points, respectively. In games like those, it is obvious that while several other versatile seven-orso-footers have come into the League in the years since AD was selected first overall, it is hard to argue against him as one of the players any GM would most like to build a team around. Davis, who comes off as a seasoned veteran at the age of 24, has plenty of time to redefine the game even further.

90 | NBA All-Star 2018

KEVIN DURANT Position: Forward Height: 6-9 Weight: 240 Birthdate: 9-29-88 College: Texas Year in NBA: 11th All-Star: 9th

RON TURENNE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

evin Durant doesn’t need to prove anything. If he did, though, he would have no problem doing so on an almost nightly basis, as this season has continued to show. Since joining the Warriors before the 2016-17 season, the now 9-time All-Star has brought Golden State to another level of play, setting the team up as Finals favorites for the foreseeable future. And while his offensive proficiency has been acknowledged widely since his days at Texas, Durant this season is making a strong case to be Defensive Player of the Year. Going into All-Star, KD is among the League leaders while anchoring the Warriors’ third-ranked defensive rating (102.2). He, as usual, ranks within the top 10 in Player Efficiency Rating and points per game. The fact is, though, that Durant is so consistently within the top 20 in so many statistical categories, that that level of production is almost a given at this point in his career. He certainly could not prove much more when it comes to measurements and analytics. And with the Warriors again sitting atop the Western Conference and firing on all cylinders regardless of minor injuries or lineup adjustments, there’s also not much more for Durant to prove when it comes to his ability to provide whatever his team needs.

Blake His second chance at life

made possible by an organ donor Teenager, soccer player, heart recipient

Blake received his gift of life—a heart transplant—when he was just two weeks old. But you’d never guess it today. He plays soccer, basketball, runs track, and takes good care of the gift he was given. You can be someone’s second chance, too. Say yes to donation. Sign up online as an organ, eye, and tissue donor.

Imagine what you could make possible. Go to organdonor.gov.

organdonor.gov donaciondeorganos.gov

KYRIE IRVING

92 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 193 Birthdate: 3-23-92 College: Duke Year in NBA: 7th All-Star: 5th

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

t ain’t easy being green, huh? With all respect to Kermit the Frog, try telling that to Kyrie Irving, who has not only thrived in Boston, but has the Celtics looking like legit title contenders. Since the start of this season, the Celtics have held down the perch high atop the Eastern Conference standings. Irving, who was traded to Beantown right before the season, has flourished as the top dog in head coach Brad Stevens’ offense. He’s averaging a healthy 25 points, but it’s the slick handles, the lightning quick first step and clutch determination that have the local fans dreaming of the glory days of Bird, McHale and Parish, when the color green ruled the basketball world. After leaving Cleveland, Irving has become the man in Boston, picking up the slack as Gordon Hayward recovers from an ankle injury. Shining on his own, Irving has cemented his status among the game’s elite. We know this year’s All-Star Game takes place in Los Angeles—the yin to Boston’s yang— but there’s nothing all true Angeleno basketball fans appreciate more than a great point guard. And even they have to respect the work Irving has put in this season.

LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE Position: Forward Height: 6-11 Weight: 260 Birthdate: 7-19-85 College: Texas Year in NBA: 12th All-Star: 6th

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fter missing out on the All-Star game last season, LaMarcus Aldridge is back for his sixth appearance in seven years and second as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. With All-NBA team leader Kawhi Leonard missing all but nine games so far this year, Aldridge has become the No. 1 option, a role he thrived in for years in Portland. With more looks (nearly 18 shots per game, nearly four more than he averaged his first two years with San Antonio), Aldridge is averaging 22.4 ppg, the third highest total in his 12-year career. Part of his resurgence this season can be attributed to a re-focusing on playing with his back to the basket, something that Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich tried to get Aldridge away from too often in the past. At 32 years old, he is pulling down 8.5 rpg and his double-doubles are among the Leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader boards. On January 19, Aldridge surpassed 1,000 points for the season for the 11th straight season. That mark put him in elusive company, as only LeBron James has accomplished that feat over the same period of time. The Spurs head into the All-Star break on track for another 50-win season and primed for another playoff run, and Aldridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renaissance is a big reason why.

BRADLEY BEAL Position: Guard Height: 6-5 Weight: 207 Birthdate: 6-28-93 College: Florida Year in NBA: 6th All-Star: 1st

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ny person who seeks greatness in Washington needs an equally capable running mate to solidify the ticket. For the Wizards, Bradley Beal has flourished in the backcourt, creating as potent a 1-2 punch as there is in the League alongside fellow All-Star John Wall. Beal, who long has balled out on an elite level, finally gets his proper due this year, making his debut at All-Star. When he was announced to the team on January 23, Beal was averaging a career high 23.6 points, while also posting career bests in rebounds (4.3) and assists (3.7). For the first time in a decade, Washington will have two All-Stars (Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison in 2008), but while those Wiz legends were entering the later stages of their careers, Beal appears to just be getting started on his road to greatness. Overcoming the injury bug that slowed him in the past, Beal has a newfound confidence and has shown marked leadership growth to complement his plethoric offensive abilities. Just ask the Portland Trail Blazers, who watched Beal drop 51 points on them earlier this year. With his first AllStar under his belt, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no doubt about it anymoreâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Bradley is the Beal Deal.

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GORAN DRAGIC

hings have been quiet in South Beach after the rock and roll days of the Heatles, but Miami has rebounded quickly, thanks to the quiet leadership and play of point guard Goran Dragic. The Slovenian guard has always shown a knack for scoring with his slithery forays to the basket that is a bit reminiscent of Manu Ginobili. Like Ginobili, the lefthanded Dragic is deadly when getting to his favorite spots on the floor, particularly on the left elbow of the floor. He’s recently added a three-point shot to his game to go with his drive-and-kick game that has fueled the Heat attack. In spite of Miami’s roster being besieged with injuries, Dragic has kept Miami in the thick of the playoff race with his play. At 31 and in his 10th season, Dragic becomes one of the oldest players to be making his All-Star debut, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to see him in more down the road.

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Birthdate: 5-6-86 Country: Slovenia Year in NBA: 10th All-Star: 1st

GLENN JAMES/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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ndre Drummond might be an injury replacement for John Wall on Team LeBron, but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s every bit the AllStar, just missing the cut as an East reserve initially. Drummond has been the rock for the Pistons this season, putting his usual double-double output (14.8 points and a League-best 15.3 rebounds) while playing almost every game (Drummond has played at least 81 games over the past four seasons). On defense, Drummond is a presence in the middle, blocking his usual one-and-a-half blocks per game. The two areas where Drummond has improved a great deal is free-throw shooting and being a playmaker. A career 38 percent shooter from the charity stripe in his five seasons, Drummond has completely turned it around this year, making good on 62 percent of them. The improved free-throw shooting (teams previously would intentionally foul him to exploit his weakness) has also allowed him to become a focal point of the Pistonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; offense. Drummond has taken full advantage of the opportunity. Showing off good decision-making and a nice touch, Drummond is averaging a career-best 4 assists per game. With the arrival of Blake Griffin in Detroit, we can expect Drummond to be tossing more spectacular dimes as the Pistons make a strong push for the playoffs in the second half of the season.

ANDRE DRUMMOND Position: Center Height: 6-11 Weight: 279 Birthdate: 8-10-93 College: Connecticut Year in NBA: 6th All-Star: 2nd

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PAUL GEORGE

aul George will play in his third straight All-Star after being named as the replacement for the injured DeMarcus Cousins on Team LeBron. After being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder by the Indiana Pacers in the offseason, George has found himself right at home playing alongside Russell Westbrook in OKC, averaging 21.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a Leagueleading 2.2 steals per game, while shooting a career-high 42 percent from three-point range and contributing 2.6 defensive win shares. Most importantly, with George clicking so well with his new team, the Thunder enter the All-Star break as one of the hottest teams over the past month, going on an eight-game win streak in January and sitting in the middle of the crowded Western Conference playoff seeds. Westbrook, George and Carmelo Anthony have looked more and more comfortable with each other as the season has progressed, and having a playmaker like Westbrook has freed George up for plenty of open looks. In the second half of the season, look for Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense to become even more important for the Thunder, who lost a key perimeter defender in Andre Roberson with a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon on January 27. The now five-time All-Star has thus far been more than capable of stepping up and doing whatever is needed for Oklahoma City.

Position: Forward Height: 6-9 Weight: 220 Birthdate: 5-2-90 College: Fresno State Year in NBA: 8th All-Star: 5th

ZACH BEEKER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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hroughout his career, the highs and lows, Kevin Love has always shown a tenacity and hunger to bounce back from adversity. When injuries and losses accumulated in Minnesota, he responded with career-high numbers. When it took longer than expected for him to mesh in Cleveland, Love played a crucial role when the Cavaliers captured their first championship in 2016. Yet here is Love, a decade deep in the game, earning his fifth All-Star selection, though he will miss the game with a broken hand. Love remains a machine on the boards and lethal from any spot on the floor with the ball in his hands. Loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball IQ, court awareness and drive has kept him among the Leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elite consistently. Come April, when Cleveland is back forming into the team no one wants to see in the playoffs, the Cavaliers will be carried by the greatness of LeBron, but Love will be there at the center, holding the team down and making big plays when it matters most, just as he has done throughout his career.

KEVIN LOVE* Position: Forward-Center Height: 6-10 Weight: 251 Birthdate: 9-7-88 College: UCLA Year in NBA: 10th All-Star: 5th

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DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

* Injured, will not be playing

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VICTOR OLADIPO Position: Guard Height: 6-4 Weight: 210 Birthdate: 5-4-92 College: Indiana Year in NBA: 5th All-Star: 1st

RON HOSKINS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

n his first season with the Indiana Pacers, Victor Oladipo is showing everyone why he was selected No. 2 overall back in 2013. The road to his first All-Star appearance wasn’t always easy for the 25-year-old, with stops in Orlando and Oklahoma City where he struggled to play to his draft status. After being traded to Indiana, where he played in college, along with Domantas Sabonis for Paul George, Oladipo has seized this new opportunity and ran with it. Literally. His play has been fueled by constant acceleration. While Oladipo has always been a capable scorer, averaging nearly 16 ppg heading into this year, he is shooting with a new confidence this season (career-high 49 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from three). This has led to an outburst of 24.2 ppg and being one of the frontrunners for Most Improved Player. On the defensive end, Oladipo is very adept as a ball hawk, averaging 1.9 steals. Go deeper, and Oladipo’s numbers on both sides of the court give him a Real PlusMinus that ranks in the NBA’s top 10. The fifth-year guard has continued to improve as the season progresses, punctuating 2017 with five 30-plus point games in December, including a career-high 47 points against the Nuggets. The Pacers have found another All-Star in Oladipo and should be in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race in the second half of the season.

here have been taller players (but not many) than 7-3 Kristaps Porzingis, but few (if any) can claim the same skill set as the Latvian forward, hence the Unicorn nickname. A virtual unknown when the Knicks selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Porzingis immediately became a household name, averaging 14.3 ppg, 7.3 apg and 1.9 bpg as a 20-year-old rookie in the Big Apple. Since then, Porzingis has only improved his scoring output—18.1 ppg in his sophomore year to his current 23.3 output, earning him his first All-Star berth. Porzingis’ height allows him to shoot practically over any defender around the basket, but what makes him the rare specimen is his ability to stretch them out to the three-point line and put the ball on the floor. At just 22, Porzingis’ game is still ascending, a scary thought for opponents for the next decade, but very good for the All-Star Game, where he should be a fixture for years to come.

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS* Position: Forward-Center Height: 7-3 Weight: 240 Birthdate: 8-2-95 Country: Latvia Year in NBA: 3rd All-Star: 1st

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NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

* Injured, will not be playing

KEMBA WALKER Position: Guard Height: 6-1 Weight: 184 Birthdate: 5-8-90 College: Connecticut Year in NBA: 7th All-Star: 2nd

BROCK WILLIAMS-SMITH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

emba Walker joins All-Star for the second straight year after being named as the injury replacement for Kristaps Porzingis on Team LeBron. Walker has been a source of consistency for the Charlotte Hornets in his seventh season, bringing his leadership, scoring and passing abilities to the floor every night. This year, Walker is averaging 22.6 points, 5.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, while ranking within the top 20 in advanced metrics like offensive win shares, box plus/minus and value over replacement player. So far this season, he has also already set two Hornets franchise recordsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;three pointers in a game (nine, on January 31 against the Hawks) and franchise career three-pointers (930, on February 4 against the Suns, surpassing Dell Curry). Walkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s propensity for hitting big shots and playing fearlessly dates back to his college heroics at UConn, and he continues to bring that same heart and energy as one of the most enjoyable point guards to watch in the League.

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JOHN WALL* Position: Guard Height: 6-4 Weight: 210 Birthdate: 9-6-90 College: Kentucky Year in NBA: 8th All-Star: 5th

* Injured, will not be playing

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BRIAN SEVALD/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

or any tourist’s first trip to the nation’s capital, there are an abundance of options. The Cherry Blossoms along the Potomac River make for an ideal springtime stroll. The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument are classic faves. But from October to April, when the Wizards claim residency in the Capital One Arena, there is no hotter ticket than watching John Wall put in work. D.C. basketball legends have run the gamut in personality. Big John Thompson owned the Georgetown sidelines with a growl and a towel. Wes Unseld was as rugged as they came, patrolling the paint with impunity like the Secret Service. But few have balled out in Washington like Wall, the heart and soul of the Wizards’ resurrection as Eastern Conference contenders. Throughout his career, Wall has been one of the only stars in the League capable of averaging nearly 20 points and 10 assists. Entering his prime, he has learned to cut down on his turnovers and become an improved three-point shooter, all the while maintaining the ice in his veins in crunch time and letting loose the swagger that makes him among the biggest matchup problems in the League. Wall continues to be a work of art on the court, an attraction that makes the Smithsonian envious. Though he will miss the All-Star Game because of an injury, expect him to be back in spring to lead the Wizards’ playoff run.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK

JEFF HAYNES/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 200 Birthdate: 11-12-88 College: UCLA Year in NBA: 10th All-Star: 7th

he reigning NBA MVP has a new cast of players around him, but he is up to his same old tricks. Russell Westbrook took home the hardware last year thanks to an incredible season in which he averaged a triple-double, the first player to do so since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62, and led the League in scoring (31.6 ppg). This year, while playing alongside two high-profile additions to the Thunder roster, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George, Westbrook has a strong chance to repeat last year’s feat and mess around to average a trip-dub once again. While his averages are slightly down from last year’s, Westbrook still leads the League in assists going into the All-Star break (10.1), and with his rebound average at 9.4, expect him to turn it on even more in the second half of the season to try to make history twice. He also sits at or near the top in many advanced statistical categories, including Value Over Replacement Player, Box Plus/ Minus and Defensive Win Shares. Despite questions about how the new “Big Three” in Oklahoma City would adapt to sharing the floor with each other, the Thunder look increasingly like one of the most dangerous teams in the West, and Russ is showing that even when he doesn’t need to score as much, you can still count on him to do just about everything on the basketball court. And as a two-time All-Star MVP who plays like he always has more to prove, the Long Beach native is bound to put on a show in his hometown area.

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DWANE CASEY College: Kentucky Year as NBA Head Coach: 9th Year as All-Star Head Coach: 1st

he most accomplished head coach in Toronto franchise history, Dwane Casey adds another notch to his belt, as he’ll be coaching Team LeBron for the 2018 All-Star. In a twist of fate, his two All-Stars—Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan—will be members of Team Stephen. The Raptors all-time leader in regular season and postseason triumphs, Casey has spent the past seven campaigns north of the border and his guidance has steadied the organization into a perennial playoff contender. In 2015-16, Casey ushered Toronto to its first 50-win season and lone Eastern Conference Finals appearance. He holds the four winningest seasons in franchise history—every year since 2013-14—and in that timespan, the Raptors have not won fewer than 48 games or missed the playoffs. Casey, an NCAA champion as a player with Kentucky in 1978, began his coaching career in the college ranks as an assistant with the Wildcats before bouncing around to Western Kentucky and the Japanese Basketball League. After brief stints in Seattle (assistant) and Minnesota (head coach), in 2011 Casey was an assistant coach for the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. The following season he became Toronto’s head coach, and this year looks to steer them into the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, or perhaps beyond.

ASSISTANT COACHES

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NICK NURSE

JAMA MAHLALELA

PATRICK MUTOMBO

JIM SANN

ERIC KHOURY

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112 | NBA All-Star 2018

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JOSH CORBEIL

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STEPHEN CURRY

atching Stephen Curry light it up at All-Star has become an annual tradition. With his fifth straight appearance, Curry has become somewhat of an institution at the All-Star Game. Each February, fans wonder how he will test the limits of how far away a human being can make a three-point shot look as natural as a layup. The doubters thought the skinny frame wouldn’t stand the rigors of an 82-game season. But Curry has only gotten stronger. They said he couldn’t co-exist with his fellow Splash brethren, let alone with former MVP Kevin Durant arriving to The Bay. Curry’s response? He’s only averaging his second-highest mark for points (27.5) as the Dubs have once again soared to the top of the West. Judging by fan voting totals, there is no force in the League right now like Curry’s star power. And while this year’s festivities may be in SoCal, northern Cali will be well represented, led by the Chef cooking up some marvelous shots to get your mouth watering.

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Birthdate: 3-14-88 College: Davidson Year in NBA: 9th All-Star: 5th

NOAH GRAHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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he Greek Freak has been ascending the steps to superstardom since entering the League in 2013, improving by giant leaps and bounds every season. This year, we may finally be close to seeing what peak Giannis looks like. Antetokounmpo this season is scoring, rebounding and pilfering more than he ever has, and his shooting has gotten better—from the floor, from long range and from the free throw line. He also continues to be one of the most exhilarating players to watch in the League, if not in all of sports, a poster child for the game’s positionless future whose size, speed and skill combine to inspire awe in NBA veterans and casual fans alike. With his international background and effortless charm, he is also in a fantastic position to be one of the League’s most popular ambassadors around the globe for years to come. Meanwhile, his Bucks have become serious contenders in the Eastern Conference, a squad that teams will most likely hope to avoid for as long as possible in the playoffs, thanks to the matchup problems that Antetokounmpo’s presence inevitably creates. We may indeed be watching one of the League’s most exciting young players play in his prime, but there’s also no guarantee that Giannis won’t continue to get better and better. And for the rest of the NBA, that’s a pretty scary prospect.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO Position: Forward Height: 6-11 Weight: 222 Birthdate: 12-6-94 Country: Greece Year in NBA: 5th All-Star: 2nd

ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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DEMAR DEROZAN Position: Guard Height: 6-7 Weight: 220 Birthdate: 8-7-89 College: USC Year in NBA: 9th All-Star: 4th

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RON TURENNE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

earing a decade into his career up North, DeMar DeRozan has carved out a steady presence for himself in the All-Star Game. This season marks his third straight All-Star appearance and fourth overall. DeRozan, along with fellow All-Star teammate Kyle Lowry, has the Raptors near the top of the East heading into the AllStar break. While he has long been considered one of the most prolific midrange shooters in the game, the Compton product is getting it done with proficiency all over the court. DeRozan’s overall shooting percentage (46.8) is his highest since his rookie season, and his free-throw shooting (82.5) is right around his career average (82.7), but where DeRozan has improved the most is beyond the arc. While his career-best three-point attempts per game (3.4) may seem pedestrian for today’s style of play, his long range shooting percentage (34.5) is by far a career best. Couple his peak shooting performances with a career-high in assists (5.1) and 2017-18 may end up as DeRozan’s finest season yet. He started off 2018 with a bang, dropping 52 points in a 131-127 OT victory over the Bucks on New Year’s Day. against the Bucks. DeRozan will need to continue this career year come playoff time for Toronto to take the next step, dethrone LeBron in the East and make it to the franchise’s first-ever Finals.

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120 | NBA All-Star 2018

JOEL EMBIID Position: Center Height: 7-0 Weight: 250 Birthdate: 3-16-94 College: Kansas Year in NBA: 3rd All-Star: 1st

JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

his season has gone about as well as it possibly could have for Joel Embiid—and therefore, for Sixers fans who have patiently awaited the full unleashing of The Process. After being drafted by Philadelphia with the third overall pick in 2014, those fans watched as Embiid missed the entirety of his first two seasons due to a nagging foot injury, and then as his first season of action was cut short last February due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. Come this past October, when the Sixers offered Embiid a five-year, $148 million contract extension, many wondered if they were investing too heavily in a player who has had bad injury luck. But based on what we’ve seen during the first half of this year and his time on-court last season, it looks like Embiid might be worth every penny. While still resting during one game of back-to-backs, he has proven both durable and, at times, unstoppable. He has displayed the defensive dominance everyone expected when he came out of Kansas—ranking in the top ten in the League in blocks and rebounds per game—while also showing his full arsenal of offensive weapons, from old-school post-ups to driving Eurosteps to deep threes. As a member of the current generation of “unicorn” big men, Embiid is creating plenty of highlights and giving those Philly diehards plenty of reasons to trust him.

JAMES HARDEN

fter narrowly missing out on the MVP award last year, James Harden looks to be on a mission to take home the trophy in 2018. Now a six-time All-Star, Harden is leading the League in scoring by a healthy margin with 31.2 ppg. The Beard has the Rockets cruising again, right behind the defending champion Warriors in the standings. In his second game back after missing the first two weeks of January with a hamstring injury, Harden helped lead the Rockets to a 116-108 win over the first-place Warriors with 22 points, 8 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals. Before the injury, Harden scored at least 20 points in the first 35 games of the season. He registered at least 40 points seven times and topped 50 four times, including an NBA-first 60-point triple-double against the Magic on January 30. Even after the Rockets added Chris Paul to the backcourt in the offseason, Harden is still facilitating at a high rate, averaging 9 assists per game. He is also leading the League in a number of advanced statistics, including Player Efficiency Rating, Usage Percentage and Win Shares. If Harden can keep up his MVP-level of play, Houston has a chance to come out of the West and play for its first NBA title in more than 20 years.

Position: Guard Height: 6-5 Weight: 220 Birthdate: 8-26-89 College: Arizona State Year in NBA: 9th All-Star: 6th

DANNY BOLLINGER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

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JIMMY BUTLER Position: Guard Height: 6-8 Weight: 236 Birthdate: 9-14-89 College: Marquette Year in NBA: 7th All-Star: 4th

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GARY BASSING/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

ometimes in this League, it just takes a Jedi-level master to school the young padawans on how to reach the next level of success. For years, the baby T-Wolves were anxious pups, full of gusto and beaming with the future in their eyes. But without a next level defender, a scorer who had transformed his game multiple times over and knew how to get over the hump and carry a team to the playoffs, Minnesota still might be roaming around in the wild. Enter Jimmy Butler, the leader of the pack that has carried the Timberwolves into not only playoff contention, but made them one of the most surprising teams thus far this season. It’s been four years since Minnesota had an All-Star and some would say Butler’s nod (alongside teammate Karl-Anthony Towns) legitimizes the Timberwolves’ hot start. But for Butler, expect it only to be a pit stop along a greater road he plans to travel, with Minnesota hungry for more. If the new All-Star Game format is all about raising the level of competitiveness, then Butler, just like he has done in Minnesota, is the perfect foil to ramp up the intensity and change the culture.

DRAYMOND GREEN Position: Forward Height: 6-7 Weight: 230 Birthdate: 3-4-90 College: Michigan State Year in NBA: 6th All-Star: 3rd

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DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

he mantra of the Golden State Warriors is all about strength in numbers, but Draymond Green remains more than just figures on a stat sheet. The energy that permeates Oracle Arena is rooted in Green’s ethos, as he has reached legend status already for the soul he’s committed to the Bay. Amid all the Splash and Durantula freakishness, Green is the motor of the Warriors’ reign atop the League, never stopping, heart always pumping gold and blue. No ego ever gets too big among the Warriors cadre of stars and Green is always there to rein them in. As essential as he is to team chemistry, Green’s true impact is found in his tormenting defense, his hustle and grind, the ability to make the right pass at the right time and never backing down from opponents. Green is a kindred spirit to NoCal legends like E-40 and Beast Mode, the kind of cat they will paint murals of on walls from Oakland to San Fran. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year may seem out of place in an AllStar format, but Green is the player everyone wants on their team and no one wants to play against.

n a city known for grit and grinders, scrappers and pavement pounders, Al Horford could be the hardest working man in Boston. The complete player the Celtics craved to boost their ascent into the League’s elite, Horford is a coach’s dream and an opponent’s nightmare—a veritable conglomerate of basketball talent. Back in November, Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel told reporters Horford was the “most underrated guy in the League.” In an ever-changing NBA landscape where big men are now handling the ball and shooting threes, Horford does the little things and more to keep the Celtics churning. The addition of Kyrie Irving to handle point guard duties has already produced dividends, but it’s Horford’s proficiency on both ends of the floor that keeps opposing coaches awake at night. Within Boston’s system, he’s influenced the rapid maturation of the Celtics’ young pieces and was instrumental in helping land Gordon Hayward last summer. Irving may be the undisputed best player of the Celtics, but Horford deserves equal praise for the team’s success this season.

AL HORFORD Position: Forward-Center Height: 6-10 Weight: 245 Birthdate: 6-3-86 College: Florida Year in NBA: 11th All-Star: 5th

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

128 | NBA All-Star 2018

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DAMIAN LILLARD Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 195 Birthdate: 7-15-90 College: Weber State Year in NBA: 6th All-Star: 3rd

130 | NBA All-Star 2018

CAMERON BROWNE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

amian Lillard returns to All-Star after two straight years of just missing the cut. While Dame’s numbers have stayed fairly consistent over the past three seasons, his Trail Blazers enter the break looking like a more dangerous playoff contender than they have at any other time during that stretch, and Lillard remains the fiery engine that drives his squad. As one of the most electric around-the-rim finishers in the League, Dame has already had countless moments this season that have left fans in awe of his ability to hit perfect angles off the glass on layups, regardless of contact from defenders or the bodily contortions required. The focus he demands from opponents in the paint has also allowed him to showcase his passing skills, whether it’s hitting Jusuf Nurkic with a wraparound pass off the pick and roll, or kicking out to C.J. McCollum, Al-Farouq Aminu or Shabazz Napier for a three. Numbers-wise, Lillard sits within or near the top 10 in the League in points per game (25.3), assists per game (6.6), offensive win shares, box plus/minus and value over replacement player. He is currently one of only four players this season averaging at least 25 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds per game, along with Steph Curry, James Harden and LeBron James. Lillard plays with a confidence that shows he has no doubt he belongs in that company, and as he is arguably just entering his prime, chances are that he won’t have another February weekend break anytime soon.

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KYLE LOWRY Position: Guard Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Birthdate: 3-25-86 College: Villanova Year in NBA: 12th All-Star: 4th

132 | NBA All-Star 2018

SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

he Canadian dollar may be struggling at the moment, but no matter the exchange rate, Kyle Lowry’s dimes are equal to pure magnificence. The Toronto Raptors jumped toward the top of the Eastern Conference standings during the first half of the season, spurred by the dynamic playmaking of North Philly’s finest. Since arriving in Toronto in 2012, Lowry has been among the most durable and consistent stars in the League, guaranteed to drop double digit point totals with stepback jumpers and floating layups that arch so high the CN Tower gets jealous. The Raptors appear primed to get over the hump and send the rest of the conference toward extinction, buoyed by a player who defied those who said he was too small. Further proving that size ain’t nothing but a number, Lowry is averaging a career-high 5.9 rebounds this year, skillfully using his anticipatory senses and court knowledge to outfight bigs who could only dream of such numbers. Lowry notches his fourth consecutive All-Star nod after missing the honor in his first eight seasons, showing with panache that among a field of young guns and phenoms, you can get better with age.

KLAY THOMPSON Position: Guard Height: 6-7 Weight: 215 Birthdate: 2-8-90 College: Washington State Year in NBA: 7th All-Star: 4th

134 | NBA All-Star 2018

BILL BAPTIST/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

n one of the funnier off-kilter moments of the season, shortly after Klay Thompson collected his first double-double (23 points and 10 rebounds in Brooklyn against the Nets on Nov. 19), he was interviewed by a local television station about his views of scaffolding, the rickety apparatus that shield buildings under construction in New York. Thompson, of course, is an expert in support systems, having buttressed the Warriors to unprecedented heights over the last seven years. A durable marksman with already one of the purest Js in the game, Thompson has somehow improved his outside shot this season— as of his fourth All-Star announcement, he was shooting 45.3 percent from three-point range, a career best. We can only imagine that playing alongside Steph Curry and Kevin Durant has refined Thompson’s drive, making him an indispensable pillar of Golden State’s kingdom. Oh, and just in case you were curious about Thompson’s advice for encountering some old piping at a scaffolding site: try to avoid it—good advice for defenders around the League when it comes to letting Thompson get an open look around the arc.

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ast time the Minnesota Timberwolves reached the playoffs, Karl-Anthony Towns was just 8 years old. Fourteen NBA seasons later and the 22-year-old KAT has his T-Wolves poised to revisit the dance, potentially even host a First Round matchup. On the surface, his 2017-18 numbers in major categories have remained from last year’s monstrous output, and his scoring even down a touch (25.1 to 19.9), but that doesn’t factor in the lone statistic that matters: wins. Above all, Minnesota is playing winning basketball and is on pace for its first campaign above .500 since 2004-05. While kudos assuredly deserve to be flung in the direction of newly imported wingman Jimmy Butler, Towns remains the engine that pulls the caboose. Mature beyond his years, Towns is like a robot baby’s bottom: smooth and automatic. At the time of his selection, the pivot was one of five players averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, and of those five only he and DeMarcus Cousins are netting 1.5 three-pointers per game. How’s this for consistency? In his career, Towns has played in and started 220 of a possible 220 games. This marks Towns’ first All-Star appearance— though he did start in the previous two Rising Stars games—but the former NBA Rookie of the Year should develop into a midseason classic mainstay.

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS Position: Center Height: 7-0 Weight: 248 Birthdate: 11-15-95 College: Kentucky Year in NBA: 3rd All-Star: 1st DAVID SHERMAN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

136 | NBA All-Star 2018

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MIKE D’ANTONI College: Marshall Year as NBA Head Coach: 14th Year as All-Star Head Coach: 2nd

ow in his 14th season as an NBA head coach, the 66-year-old Mike D’Antoni is coaching his second All-Star, first with the Rockets. When he became Houston’s lead man in 2016-17, most knew his forte: instant offense and an uptempo, run-and-gun brand of basketball. So far he’s delivered on that promise, as his Rockets finished second in points per game and second in offensive rating last season, and through 46 contests in 2017-18 they remain at those exact same League rankings. Last year D’Antoni won NBA Coach of the Year, orchestrating Houston to 55 victories and a third seed in the West while elevating the play of superstar James Harden to an MVP runner-up finish. It was D’Antoni’s second such award, the first coming in 2004-05 with Phoenix where, during a five-year tenure, he and two-time MVP Steve Nash turned Phoenix into an exciting team that contended for championships. D’Antoni is long hailed as a point guard guru, and this season with nine-time All-Star Chris Paul at his disposal, the results have been fruitful: with CP3 in the lineup, Houston is 24-5; without him, they drop to 10-7. A D’Antoniled squad has reached the Western Conference Finals twice in his career, but this season there’s hope to launch Houston into an Finals berth.

ASSISTANT COACHES

JEFF BZDELIK

Associate Head Coach

ROY ROGERS

BRETT GUNNING

DEVAN BLAIR

JASEN POWELL

L.A. Clippers

138 | NBA All-Star 2018

EQUIPMENT MANAGERS

JOE RESENDEZ L.A. Clippers

MARCO NUNEZ

L.A. Lakers

NINA HSIEH

L.A. Lakers

KYLE RHODE

L.A. Clippers

MICHAEL ZWICH

L.A. Lakers

BILL BAPTIST (7); ADAM PANTOZZI (6)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

ATHLETIC TRAINERS

ALL-STAR SCORECARD GAME SCORE

1ST QUARTER

2ND QUARTER

3RD QUARTER

4TH QUARTER

TOTAL

TEAM LEBRON TEAM STEPHEN

TEAM LEBRON

Head Coach Dwane Casey Assistant Coaches Rex Kalamian, Nick Nurse, Jerry Stackhouse, Jama Mahlalela, Patrick Mutombo, Jim Sann, Eric Khoury, Jamaal Magloire, Jon Goodwillie Athletic Trainers Josh Corbeil, Carl Eaton NO.

PLAYER

TEAM

POS

AGE

ALL-STAR COLLEGE/H.S./COUNTRY

Cleveland Cavaliers

6-8

250

14th year

St. Vincent-St. Mary (OH)

New Orleans Pelicans

6-11

270

4th year

Kentucky

New Orleans Pelicans

F-C

6-10

253

5th year

Kentucky

LEBRON JAMES DEMARCUS COUSINS* ANTHONY DAVIS KEVIN DURANT

Golden State Warriors

6-9

240

9th year

Texas

KYRIE IRVING

Boston Celtics

6-3

193

5th year

Duke

LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE BRADLEY BEAL GORAN DRAGIC ANDRE DRUMMOND PAUL GEORGE KEVIN LOVE* VICTOR OLADIPO KRISTAPS PORZINGIS* KEMBA WALKER JOHN WALL* RUSSELL WESTBROOK

San Antonio Spurs

6-11

260

6th year

Texas

Washington Wizards

6-5

207

1st year

Florida

Miami Heat

6-3

190

1st year

Slovenia

Detroit Pistons

6-11

279

2nd year

Connecticut

Oklahoma City Thunder

6-9

220

5th year

Fresno State

Cleveland Cavaliers

F-C

6-10

251

5th year

UCLA

Indiana Pacers

6-4

210

1st year

Indiana

New York Knicks

F-C

7-3

240

1st year

Latvia

Charlotte Hornets

6-1

184

2nd year

Connecticut

Washington Wizards

6-4

210

5th year

Kentucky

Oklahoma City Thunder

6-3

200

7th year

UCLA

0 23

3 7 0 13 0 4 6 15 2 0

PTS REB AST

TEAM STEPHEN

Head Coach Mike Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Antoni Associate Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik Assistant Coaches Roy Rogers, Brett Gunning, Devan Blair Athletic Trainers Jasen Powell, Joe Resendez, Marco Nunez, Nina Hsieh Equipment Managers Kyle Rhode, Michael Zwich NO.

PLAYER

TEAM

POS

AGE

ALL-STAR COLLEGE/H.S./COUNTRY

STEPHEN CURRY GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO DEMAR DEROZAN JOEL EMBIID JAMES HARDEN

Golden State Warriors

6-3

190

5th year

Davidson

Milwaukee Bucks

6-11

222

2nd year

Greece

Toronto Raptors

6-7

220

4th year

USC

Philadelphia 76ers

7-0

250

1st year

Kansas

Houston Rockets

6-5

220

6th year

Arizona State

JIMMY BUTLER DRAYMOND GREEN AL HORFORD DAMIAN LILLARD KYLE LOWRY KLAY THOMPSON KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS

Minnesota Timberwolves

6-8

236

4th year

Marquette

Golden State Warriors

6-7

230

3rd year

Michigan State

Boston Celtics

F-C

6-10

245

5th year

Florida

Portland Trail Blazers

6-3

195

3rd year

Weber State

Toronto Raptors

6-0

205

4th year

Villanova

Golden State Warriors

6-7

215

4th year

Washington State

Minnesota Timberwolves

7-0

248

1st year

Kentucky

34 10 21 13 23 23 42 0 7 11 32

PTS REB AST

* Injured, will not play

140 | NBA All-Star 2018

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LONZO BALL Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

USA 142 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

Guard ast season, Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon became the first Rookie of the Year in 6-5 50 years who was not drafted in the first 215 round. The Virginia product has staved off 12-11-92 the proverbial sophomore slump, averaging 13.7 ppg (up from 10.2 ppg). Brogdon is also Virginia shooting 48.8 percent from the field, good for 2nd top 10 in the League among guards. While his three-point shooting percentage has dipped slightly this season to 38.6, that is still above the League average among qualified shooters. Since January, Brogdon has been starting at shooting guard and has turned his play up a notch, averaging 15.9 ppg on 53.1 percent shooting, to go along with 4.5 rpg and 3.0 apg. He scored a career-high 32 points on January 22 in a 109-105 victory over the Suns. With the Bucks battling for one of the final playoff spots in the East, Brogdon remains an important piece of the puzzle.

* Injured, will not be playing

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; RON HOSKINS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Guard his past year marked the third consecutive season in which the Los Angeles Lakers 6-6 held the NBA Draft’s second overall 190 selection. They selected UCLA product Lonzo 10-27-97 Ball, which also continued the trend of snagging a one-and-done from the college UCLA ranks (D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram 1st were the team’s other two second overall selections). Ball’s rookie season has had electric beginnings. The 6-6 point guard is a bona fide triple-double threat whenever he laces the kicks; in only his second career game he posted a line of 29 points, 11 boards and 9 assists. While a dime short that night, less than a month later Ball did secure his first triple-double, and since has become one of six players in NBA history to post multiple triple-doubles within their first 20 career games. Glamour averages of 10.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists aside, his inaugural campaign has been deadened by his struggles shooting the ball, but the prodigious talent exists for Ball to carve his own unique, flourishing path in the League.

MALCOLM BROGDON*

MTN DEW KICKSTART RISING STARS

JAYLEN BROWN Position:

Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

USA

144 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

Forward n his rookie season with the Hawks, John Collins has carved out a role as a high6-10 energy, hyperathletic big man who can 235 protect the rim and eat up rebounds. The 09-23-97 Wake Forest product was drafted with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by Atlanta, Wake Forest and he went on to earn a spot on the All1st Summer League First Team with averages of 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He became an immediate part of the Hawks’ rotation to start the regular season, and in the 40 games he has played, Collins has racked up averages of 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 0.7 steals per game, while shooting well both from the floor (.590) and from the free throw line (.736). On a young Atlanta team, it’s not hard to imagine Collins moving into a consistent starter’s role at some point, but whether or not he gets a starting nod or comes off the bench, Hawks fans have a lot of ferocious dunks and forceful defensive stops to look forward to from this former Demon Deacon.

BRIAN BABINEAU; LAYNE MURDOCH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Guard-Forward he Boston Celtics have been stalwarts atop the Eastern Conference throughout the 6-7 opening two-thirds of 2017-18 due in no 225 small part to their defensive efficiency. A chief 10-24-96 suspect in that regard has been secondyear swingman Jaylen Brown. At 6-7 with an California approximate 7-foot wingspan, Brown utilizes 2nd those branchy limbs to impede handles and would-be dimes, disrupt shots and presumably sculpt his neat flattop. It’s difficult to ascertain how much the latter impacts one’s defensive ability, but Brown’s footspeed and instincts are versatile instruments to fight through screens, or switch on them, and guard multiple positions, frequently drawing assignments of potent offensive dangers. Offensively, he is no burden. Brown is an exceptional athlete who’s comfortable in transition and loitering behind the three-point arc. This season, his statistical output has roughly doubled in accordance with his playing time—31.4 minutes (17.2 in 2016-17), 14.2 points (6.6), 5.5 boards (2.8), 1.4 assists (0.8), 1.7 threes (0.6) and 1.1 steals (0.4). As with most young players, Brown tussles with consistency, but there’s much to like about the 21-year-old’s game.

JOHN COLLINS

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KRIS DUNN Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

USA 146 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position:

Forward-Guard elected second overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brandon Ingram is showing palpable 6-9 improvement during his sophomore 190 campaign. Compared with year one, his 9-2-97 numbers across the board have ascended in a desirable direction: 15.5 points from 9.4; .451 Duke field goal percentage from .402; 5.3 rebounds 2nd from 4; and 3.4 assists from 2.1. Listed at 6-9, 190, Ingram can sometimes look like a beanpole among a sea of sturdier vets, but what he lacks in bulk he compensates for in length and dexterous manipulation of the human anatomy. With a wingspan over 7 feet, Ingram’s wiry appendages allow him to elevate jumpers over the outstretched digits of surrounding defenders, and he’s agile enough to whiz across the lane and finish at the rim. He’s mainly a perimeter player, but Lakers head coach Luke Walton has also toyed with the idea of Ingram handling the point. Because he’ll be just 20 years old for the entirety of 2017-18, his future is undeniably promising, and the progression he’s shown signifies hope in Los Angeles.

Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

JEFF HAYNES; DANNY BOLLINGER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Guard fter one season with the Timberwolves, Kris Dunn was traded to the Bulls as part 6-4 of the deal that sent Jimmy Butler to 210 Minnesota. After playing only 17.1 mpg as a 3-18-94 Timberwolf rookie, the former top-five pick has started 31 of 40 games, averaging 29.7 Providence mpg. This extended playing time has shown 2nd off Dunn’s potential, as he is contributing 13.7 ppg, 6.4 apg and 4.6 rpg for Chicago. He also has been a menace on defense, where he is third in the NBA with 2.05 steals per game. After a 3-20 start, Chicago has pulled together a 15-9 stretch, starting with a 119-111 win over Charlotte that saw Dunn record his second career double-double (20 points, 12 assists). Since December 1, the two-time Big East Player of the Year is averaging 14.8 ppg and 7.8 apg, making his sophomore year anything but a slump.

BRANDON INGRAM

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KYLE KUZMA

USA 148 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

Guard onovan Mitchell was selected 13th overall by the Nuggets in the 2017 NBA Draft and then 6-3 traded to the Jazz for the 24th pick (Tyler 215 Lydon) and Trey Lyles. The move has worked 9-7-96 out perfectly for Utah, as Mitchell is leading all rookies in scoring (19.2 ppg), is third in steals Louisville (1.49 spg) and tied for seventh in assists (3.4 1st apg). The Louisville product is lauded for his explosiveness and ability to make shots, but has also shown an ability to play the point and a willingness to have the ball in his hands. After a solid November, Mitchell broke out on December 1, pouring in a career-high 41 points in a 114-108 win over New Orleans. He would go on to win the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December after averaging 23.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.8 apg and 1.8 spg. Since his 41 point outburst, Mitchell has scored over 30 points four more times and catapulted himself to the top of the Rookie of the Year discussions.

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; MELISSA MAJCHRZAK/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

Forward rafted with the 27th pick overall by the Brooklyn Nets, Kyle Kuzma was traded with 6-9 Brook Lopez to the Lakers on draft night in 220 exchange for Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Angelo Russell and Timofey 7-24-95 Mozgov. Kuzmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s addition to the trade may have seemed like a move to deepen the Utah bench, with fellow forwards Brandon Ingram 1st and Julius Randle drafted in the top 10 within the last two years. By the time Kuzma recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Brooklyn on November 3, it was clear he was much more than that. Kuzmania ran wild often in the first half of the season, winning him the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November. His numbers continued to skyrocket in December, when he averaged 19.5 ppg. Kuzma set a careerhigh with 38 points thanks in part to a torrid 7-of-10 night from three in a 122-116 victory over the Rockets on December 20. Overall, he ranks in the top 10 among rookies with 16.5 ppg, .371 three-point shooting, 6.2 rpg and 10 double-doubles.

DONOVAN MITCHELL

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TAUREAN PRINCE

Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: College: Year in NBA:

College:

USA 150 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate:

ennis Smith Jr. Guard will be pulling 6-3 double duty this 195 All-Star, not only appearing on the 11-25-97 Rising Stars, but North Carolina State also competing in 1st the Verizon Slam Dunk. That should tell you what kind of skill set the Mavs rookie brings to the table: a formidable all-around game that centers around his ability to get to the rim and hammer it down like few 6-3 guards can. Smith entered the 2017 NBA Draft as a prospect with tantalizing scoring and passing abilities. His current rookie averages of 14.8 points, 4.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game display the kind of versatility that Dallas was thrilled to land at the ninth pick. In Smith, the Mavericks have a player who can become the next cornerstone for the franchise, and the NBA has a talent who can compete all weekend long in many All-Stars to come.

Year in NBA:

JAYSON TATUM

hen the Celtic Forward selected Jayson Tatum third overall 6-8 in the 2017 NBA Draft, 205 the Duke product 3-3-98 projected to be an important part of the Duke Celtics future. When 1st newly signed free agent splash Gordon Hayward went down with a possible season ending injury in the first game of the year, Tatum’s timeline to produce rapidly accelerated. Through 46 games, Tatum is the only Celtic to start every game, putting up numbers on both sides of the court that would be impressive for a 10-year veteran, let alone a 19-yearold rookie. He has had little problem adapting to the longer NBA three-point line, making them at a 45.7 clip. Named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December, Tatum’s defensive prowess has him atop the League leaders in both Defensive Rating (101.3) and Defensive Win Shares (2.6). Averaging 13.8 ppg at the All-Star Break, Tatum is on pace to become the first Celtic rookie in 20 years to average double digits points in a season (Paul Pierce).

Position: Height: Weight: Birthday: College: Year in NBA:

ADAM PANTOZZI; GLENN JAMES; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

tlanta Hawks Forward sophomore 6-8 forward Taurean 220 Prince enters the Rising Stars as 3-22-94 the replacement Baylor for injured Bucks 2nd guard Malcolm Brogdon, and it’s a well-deserved nod for the second-year player out of Baylor. Prince has been a bright spot on a young Hawks team, starting in all 53 games so far this season, and putting up averages of 12.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game. Those numbers point to the kind of strong all-around game Atlanta was hoping for when they acquired him in the July 2016 trade that shipped away Jeff Teague, and with his combination of tenacious defense and strong shooting, Prince should remain a central piece of the Hawks’ core in the coming years.

DENNIS SMITH JR.

MTN DEW KICKSTART RISING STARS

BOGDAN BOGDANOVIC Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

WORLD 152 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position:

Forward-Guard o show you just how important veteran leadership was in the consistency the 6-6 Memphis Grizzlies developed over the 220 last decade, Dillon Brooks is the first player 1-22-96 from the franchise to be named to the Rising Stars Challenge since 2009. With Memphis Canada finally turning the page of a well-earned run 1st of dominance, Brooks quickly stepped up to inherit the role as a future leader for the Grizz. At the time of his announcement to the World Team, Brooks was the only Grizzly to have appeared in all of the teams’ 46 games this season. Brooks has admitted he’s not the most athletic player in the world, but his gym rat tendencies and grind have more than compensated. Throw in his crispy three-point shot and defensive tenacity and you have the kind of scrapper that the blue collar fans of Memphis will love to watch lead a new generation for years to come.

Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

ROCKY WIDNER; RON TURENNE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Guard he Kings’ young princes still have a ways to go before they earn the crown, but a good 6-6 thing is brewing in Sacto. When Bogdan 205 Bogdanovic made his debut in the League in 08-18-92 October, the Serbian smooth operator wasted no time showing off the skills that had scouts Serbia salivating for years. Bogdanovic dropped 12 1st points in one quarter, letting loose an array of teardrop floaters, spin moves and of course, three-point buckets. Last month Bogdanovic really started to shine, posting doubledigit scoring totals in each of his first 10 games. This streak was highlighted by the 25 points Bogdanovic gave the Utah Jazz, where he was a perfect 6-6 from beyond the three-point line. With his confidence improving by the day, Bogey looks to be an ace in the hole for the Kings’ rebirth.

DILLON BROOKS

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JOEL EMBIID Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

WORLD 154 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

Guard rowing up in the Bahamas, Buddy Hield learned how to ball with Mother Nature 6-4 as one of his biggest adversaries. Yeah, 214 you might think the outdoor courts of the 12-17-93 Caribbean are nice, but wait until the ocean gusts start wreaking havoc with the rotation Bahamas on your shot. After a frantic rookie season, 2nd Hield showed that he can handle any climate and is thriving in Sacramento. After averaging 8.6 points in 57 games with the New Orleans Pelicans, Hield has averaged more than 13 points a night for the Kings, confident in a bigger role and running amongst other hungry young studs ready to prove their worth like he is. Given the green light to shoot at will, when Hield gets hot, there are few young shooters as potent as he is from deep. These days, it looks like the winds of change are blowing in Hieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction.

JESSE D. GARRABRANT; ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Center ixers sophomore Joel Embiid is an Eastern Conference All-Star, but The Process will 7-0 likely be uncaged on Friday night as a 250 member of Team World in the Rising Stars 3-16-94 Challenge. NBA fans across the globe will benefit in the double-dip, as Embiid has Cameroon evolved into one of the more intriguing and 2nd watchable talents in the League. After missing all of 2014-15 and 2015-16, and dressing just 31 times during 2016-17, Embiid has been healthier in 2017-18, having already surpassed his career best in games played by mid-January. While Embiid still receives some scheduled maintenance days and preventative rest, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing increasingly crueler and trickier for head coach Brett Brown to chain his franchise player to the pine. Especially when you drop per game averages of 23.7 points, 10.9 caroms, 3.3 assists, 1.9 swats and 0.9 threes while in the thick of the playoff hunt. Led by their dynamic 7-footer, Philadelphia has a chance to reach the postseason for the first time since 2012.

BUDDY HIELD

e v o b A im! ht e R

MTN DEW KICKSTART RISING STARS

LAURI MARKKANEN Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

WORLD 156 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

Guard n his rookie season, Jamal Murray played in all 82 games for Denver, coming off the 6-4 bench for all but nine contests. This season, 207 lbs he has entrenched himself at point guard, 2-23-97 starting every game he has played in. As the Nuggets’ main ballhandler, Murray has Canada felt more comfortable shooting off both pick 2nd and roll and screen situations, improving his shooting percentage and points per game from 40.4 percent and 9.9 ppg to 45.2 and 16.3 this season. He is the second leading scorer on a Nuggets team that has six players averaging doubledigit points. Murray is about as automatic as it gets from the charity stripe, shooting 92.6 percent. The still just 20-year-old has been on a tear since the start of December, scoring over 20 points 12 times and averaging 18.6 ppg, 3.1 apg and 3.9 rpg. After narrowly missing the playoffs last year, Murray will be determined to help bring the Nuggets into the postseason for the first time since 2013.

GARY DINEEN; ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Forward s only the second Finnish-born player to play in the NBA (after Hanno Möttölä, 7-0 who played two seasons for the Hawks 230 from 2000-02), Lauri Markkanen is well on his 5-22-97 way to becoming the pride of his country. The way he has been playing for the Bulls Finland during his rookie season, though, means that 1st Markkanen may very well also become the pride of Chicago. The Bulls landed the 7-footer out of Arizona as part of the draft-night trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves in exchange for Zach Lavine and Kris Dunn, in addition to the rights to Markkanen, who was the seventh pick in the Draft. The Bulls have to be thrilled with the return they’ve gotten from him. He is fourth in scoring among rookies with 15.4 points per game, second in rebounds with 7.6 per game, and on January 16, he became the fastest player in NBA history to hit 100 three-pointers, doing so in his first 41 games.

JAMAL MURRAY

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MTN DEW KICKSTART RISING STARS

FRANK NTILIKINA Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

WORLD 158 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position:

Center-Forward fter getting dealt to the Pacers as part of the offseason trade that also brought Victor 6-10 Oladipo to Indiana and sent Paul George 252 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Domantas 5-03-96 Sabonis has made a dramatic leap in his second season. The former Gonzaga Bulldog Lithuania and son of Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis 2nd has taken to the Hoosier State incredibly well, upping his numbers across the board and becoming an integral part of a surprising Pacers team that sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference going into All-Star. With averages of 12.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, Sabonis has been a nightly double-double threat, especially when he’s been slotted in as a starter because of Myles Turner needing to miss games. To say that Sabonis has been a pleasant surprise for the Pacers would ignore the flashes of potential he showed in OKC, but it can’t be denied that he has come into form in Indy and has given them a huge boost to their frontcourt.

Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; RON HOSKINS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Guard he Knicks’ rookie point guard, Frank Ntilikina, will be representing the World Team in 6-5 Rising Stars, and his presence alone will 190 add a defensive intensity to the game. While 07-28-98 the young Frenchman continues to work on his shooting and aggression on offense, he France has shown during the first half of the season 1st that he is likely to become a top perimeter defender in the League. Ntilikina is sporting positive defensive win shares (0.9) and defensive box plus/minus (0.2) and is averaging over a steal per game (1.1, and 1.9 per 36 minutes). When the Knicks selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, they were hoping to get a defensive stalwart with a high basketball IQ and good passing skills, and so far, Ntilikina has shown that he can become every bit that kind of floor leader.

DOMANTAS SABONIS

MTN DEW KICKSTART RISING STARS

DARIO SARIC Position: Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

WORLD 160 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position:

Guard-Forward s far as historic rookie seasons go, it’ll be interesting to see where Ben Simmons’ 6-10 debut campaign will rank. Drafted No. 1 230 overall in 2016-17, Simmons had the basketball 7-20-96 universe waiting when he missed all of last year because of a fractured foot. Come 2017Australia 18, he’s all systems go for the Sixers and it’s 1st been a marvel. Despite a listed height that might give some Philadelphia skyscrapers a run for their money, Simmons is a pure point guard. Rarely does he hoist shots outside the paint, few midrange jumpers and fewer treys—he’s yet to sink a three-ball through the first half of the season—but none of this matters when you can impact the game, and make your teammates better, the way Simmons can. Case in point: 16.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 7.4 apg, 1.8 steals, 50 percent field-goal percentage. On January 24, the Aussie recorded his fifth triple-double—the most by a rookie since Magic Johnson in 1979-80—in only 22 minutes of action. The scary part is that there are still flaws in his game. Once the turnovers are mitigated and the shooting stroke sharpens, it’s not hyperbole to say that Simmons will be playing in the varsity game next season and for years to follow.

Height: Weight: Birthdate: Country: Year in NBA:

JESSE D. GARRABRANT; JOE MURPHY/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Forward riginally plucked with the 12th overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, Dario Saric marinated 6-10 overseas for a couple years before 223 venturing westward to reinforce the upstart 4-8-94 76ers in the summer of 2016. The Croatian import has been sturdy in his first two Croatia seasons, providing Philly with some valuable 2nd minutes at both forward spots where he can stretch the floor with his sniper-like range. Saric has a glistening touch for his stature, netting 1.9 threes on 4.9 downtown attempts, but that doesn’t imply he resists the dirty work—Saric swallows 7.0 boards a night. In 2017-18, his scoring has upped to 14 points from 12.8 and his shot percentages—field goal, three-point and free throw—have all increased considerably from last year’s humble margins. He’s also a suave passer at his size, dishing to the tune of 2.7 assists per game. Last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up has been around the European block, playing professional hoops since 2009, but he’s still only 23. Even better days should lie ahead.

BEN SIMMONS

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JBL THREE-POINT CONTEST

DEVIN BOOKER

Position: Guard Height: 6-5 Weight: 207 Birthdate: 6-28-93 College: Florida Year in 3-Point Contest: 2nd

Position: Guard Height: 6-6 Weight: 210 Birthdate: 10-30-96 College: Kentucky Year in 3-Point Contest: 2nd

NED DISHMAN; RON HOSKINS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

162 | NBA All-Star 2018

BRADLEY BEAL

JBL THREE-POINT CONTEST

PAUL GEORGE

Position: Guard Height: 6-5 Weight: 200 Birthdate: 11-29-87 College: North Carolina Year in 3-Point Contest: 1st

Position: Forward-Guard Height: 6-9 Weight: 220 Birthdate: 5-2-90 College: Fresno State Year in 3-Point Contest: 2nd

OSCAR BALDIZON; BARRY GOSSAGE/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

164 | NBA All-Star 2018

WAYNE ELLINGTON

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JBL THREE-POINT CONTEST

TOBIAS HARRIS

Position: Guard Height: 6-4 Weight: 215 Birthdate: 12-25-88 College: Indiana Year in 3-Point Contest: 2nd

Position: Forward Height: 6-9 Weight: 235 Birthdate: 7-15-92 College: Tennessee Year in 3-Point Contest: 1st

BILL BAPTIST; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

166 | NBA All-Star 2018

ERIC GORDON

JBL THREE-POINT CONTEST

KLAY THOMPSON

Position: Guard Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Birthdate: 3-25-86 College: Villanova Year in 3-Point Contest: 3rd

Position: Guard Height: 6-7 Weight: 215 Birthdate: 2-8-90

College: Washington State Year in 3-Point Contest: 4th

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; NOAH GRAHAM/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

168 | NBA All-Star 2018

KYLE LOWRY

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VERIZON SLAM DUNK

DONOVAN MITCHELL

170 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Forward Height: 6-9 Weight: 230 Birthdate: 1-1-1993 College: Wyoming Year in Slam Dunk: 1st

ROCKY WIDNER; JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 Birthdate: 9-7-96 College: Louisville Year in Slam Dunk: 1st

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172 | NBA All-Star 2018

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 195 Birthdate: 11-25-1997 College: North Carolina State Year in Slam Dunk: 1st

DAVID DOW; GLENN JAMES/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Position: Guard Height: 6-4 Weight: 210 Birthdate: 5-4-1992 College: Indiana Year in Slam Dunk: 2nd

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TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE

GORAN DRAGIC

Position: Guard Height: 6-6 Weight: 200 Birthdate: 4-6-93 College: Colorado Year in Skills Challenge: 1st

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Birthdate: 5-6-86 Country: Slovenia Year in Skills Challenge: 2nd

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; GARY DINEEN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

174 | NBA All-Star 2018

SPENCER DINWIDDIE

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TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE

JOEL EMBIID

Position: Center Height: 6-11 Weight: 279 Birthdate: 8-10-93 College: Connecticut Year in Skills Challenge: 1st

Position: Center Height: 7-0 Weight: 250 Birthdate: 3-16-94 College: Kansas Year in Skills Challenge: 1st

CHRIS SCHWEGLER; JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

176 | NBA All-Star 2018

ANDRE DRUMMOND

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TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE

LAURI MARKKANEN

Position: Forward-Center Height: 6-10 Weight: 245 Birthdate: 6-3-86 College: Florida Year in Skills Challenge: 1st

Position: Forward Height: 7-0 Weight: 230 Birthdate: 5-22-97 College: Arizona Year in Skills Challenge: 1st

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN; JEFF HAYNES/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

178 | NBA All-Star 2018

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TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE

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Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 Birthdate: 9-7-96 College: Louisville Year in Skills Challenge: 1st

Position: Guard Height: 6-1 Weight: 175 Birthdate: 10-27-86 High School: South Gwinnett Year in Skills Challenge: 1st

ROCKY WIDNER; JOE MURPHY/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

180 | NBA All-Star 2018

DONOVAN MITCHELL

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Rules and Officials

2018 MTN DEW KICKSTART RISING STARS Each team will include a minimum of: • Four guards and four frontcourt players • Three rookies and three sophomores The coaching staffs for the Rising Stars game will consist of assistant coaches from the All-Star Game teams. The Rising Stars game will feature a team comprised of a total of 10 first and second year players (Rookies and Sophomores) from the United States against a team comprised of a total of 10 first and second year players (Rookies and Sophomores) from the “World” (i.e., outside the United States). The 20 players (10 US players, 10 World players) were selected via voting conducted by the League’s assistant coaches (one vote per team from the collective of each team’s assistant coaches).

Rules - Game Four (4) 10 minute periods Each team will have two (2) timeouts per half (no carryover) A mandatory timeout will be issued at the first stoppage of play under 5:00 of each period A timeout taken by a team will negate the mandatory timeout due in that period (1st/3rd period mandatory timeouts will be charged to the home team and the 2nd/4th period mandatory timeouts will be charged to the visiting team or to the team not previously charged)

2018 TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE

A field of 8 players competes headto-head in a 3-round obstacle course competition that tests dribbling, passing, agility and shooting skills. COMPETITION RULES *(See corresponding “Flow of Play”) Two players compete simultaneously on an identical course with the winner of each head-to-head matchup advancing to the next round. BALL HANDLING – players must observe basic NBA ball-handling rules while completing the course.

182 | NBA All-Star 2018

PASSING – the passing challenge shall be considered completed (player can move on) when he either (1) successfully passes a ball through the target or (2) exhausts the corresponding rack of balls while attempting to pass a ball through the target. LAYUP/DUNK – the player must rebound his own ball until the basket is made. FINAL 3PT SHOT – the player must continue shooting the 3-point shot from any location on or behind his designated shooting spot until the course-ending three-pointer is made. The first player to do so wins the head-to-head matchup and advances. DISQUALIFICATION – players are subject to disqualification at the final discretion/ judgment of the referee for (1) failure to complete all the challenges or (2) deliberately interfering with an opponent or an opponent’s ball. INSTANT REPLAY – at the referee’s discretion, instant replay may be utilized for clarification of rules compliance.

Individual fouls will be kept, but a player will not foul out The penalty will apply after four team fouls or after the second foul in the final two minutes of each period The clock will stop after each successful field goal in the last minute of each period Overtime • Two-minute overtime period • One (1) timeout permitted per team in each overtime (75 seconds in duration) • Penalty begins on the 2nd team foul All other NBA rules apply An MVP award will be given out at the conclusion of the game

ADVANCEMENT In each head-to-head competition, the player successfully completing the course first shall be deemed the winner of that matchup and advance to the next round.

FIRST ROUND Each of the 4 head-to-head winners will advance to the Second Round.

SECOND ROUND The two Second Round winners in the head-to-head matchups will advance to the Championship Round.

CHAMPIONSHIP The Second Round winners will compete head-to-head to determine the Skills Challenge champion.

TIEBREAKERS In the event of a tie in any head-tohead competition, the tied players shall repeat the course.

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Rules and Officials

2018 TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE

1) START - On music cue, each player picks up his first ball from a pedestal and dribbles from the baseline to: 2) CROSSOVER DRIBBLE - Starting around the 1st pylon to the outside (toward sideline), then around the 2nd pylon to the inside (center court), the 3rd pylon to the

outside, 4th pylon to the inside, then finally the 5th pylon to the outside, continuing his dribble until he approaches: 3) CHEST PASS - Using the ball in his hand from the crossover dribble section, he attempts to complete the chest pass. If the first attempt is made, he moves on. If not, he must attempt to complete the chest pass using the two additional balls on the corresponding ball rack until either (1) a pass is made or (2) all the balls are exhausted (one ball at a time/toward the target) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at which point he moves on to: 4) NEW BALL/SPEED DRIBBLE - He picks up a new ball from a pedestal on the baseline and dribbles the length of the court back to:

5) LAYUP/DUNK - He must complete a layup/dunk and rebound his own shot. NOTE: He must rebound the same ball if he misses and once the shot is made he will retrieve the same ball, and proceed to the opposite end of the court to:

6) FINAL 3PT SHOT - Using the ball in his hand from his layup/dunk, the player will finish the competition by completing a 3-point shot from any location on or behind his designated shooting spot. Additional balls will be placed in a barrel beside the designated shooting spot. The first player to complete a 3-point shot wins the head-to-head matchup and advances. NOTE: All shots must be taken one ball at a time/toward the basket.

DISQUALIFICATION RULE - Players are subject to disqualification at the final discretion/judgment of the referee for (1) failure to complete all of the challenges or (2) deliberately interfering with his opponent or his opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ball.

184 | NBA All-Star 2018

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Rules and Officials

2018 JBL THREE-POINT CONTEST

Eight players will compete in the tworound, timed shooting competition.

COMPETITION FORMAT Five shooting locations are positioned around the three-point arc. Four of the racks contain four NBA regulation balls and one multicolored “money” ball. The NBA regulation balls are worth one point. The multi-colored “money” ball is worth two points. From each rack, the multi-colored “money” ball can only be shot after the four NBA regulation balls are shot.

The fifth rack will be a special “all money ball” rack. Each competitor will decide the spot for this rack to be placed at one of the five shooting locations. Every ball on this rack is worth two points. Players may not start on or over the three-point line while shooting. A basket does not count if the line is violated. INSTANT REPLAY – At the discretion of the referee, instant replay may be utilized for clarification of rules compliance.

TIME LIMIT Each competitor has one minute (1:00) to shoot as many of the 25 balls as he can.

FIRST ROUND Order of competition will be determined by random drawing, except that the returning champion will compete last. The three players with the highest scores advance to the Championship Round.

The competition order for the Championship Round will be determined by the inverse order of First Round scores. (The player with the lowest score in the First Round among the players who advanced shoots first in the Championship Round.)

TIEBREAKERS To Advance from First Round – In the event of a tie to determine the Championship Round participants, a 30-second tiebreaker will take place using the same competition format described above. If necessary, this process will be repeated until the tie is broken. To Determine Champion – In the event of a tie to determine the Champion, a full 60-second tiebreaker will take place. If necessary, this process will be repeated until the tie is broken.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND Three players will compete in the Championship Round.

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186 | NBA All-Star 2018

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Rules and Officials

2018 VERIZON SLAM DUNK remaining attempts. PROPS – Use of any props or other people in any way during the slam dunk competition must be approved in advance of the competition by the NBA Basketball Operations department. INSTANT REPLAY – At the discretion of the referee, instant replay may be utilized for rules compliance. Four dunkers will compete in the tworound competition.

RULES JUDGES - There will be five judges. For each dunk, a score from six to 10 will be given by each judge, resulting in a maximum score of 50 and a minimum score of 30. ATTEMPTS PER DUNK – For each scored dunk in both rounds (Dunks #1 and #2 in the First Round and Dunks # 1 and #2 in the Final Round), each dunker will be limited to three attempts to complete his dunk. ATTEMPT DEFINTION – An attempt is defined as the player controlling the basketball and moving it toward the rim. OFFICIATING – A referee will judge whether a dunk is considered a made dunk or a missed dunk. Made dunks cannot be “replaced,” even if the dunker has

FIRST ROUND – Two Dunks (#1 and #2) The competition order for Dunk #2 of the First Round will be determined by the inverse order of the Dunk #1 scores (e.g., player with the lowest score on Dunk #1 goes first for Dunk #2). The two dunkers with the highest composite scores (Dunk #1 + Dunk #2) advance to the Final Round – maximum 100, minimum 60.

FINAL ROUND – Two Dunks (#1 and #2) The dunker with the lowest total score from the First Round will go first in the Final Round. The competition order for Dunk #2 of the Final Round will be determined by the inverse order of the Dunk #1 scores (e.g., player with the lowest score on Dunk #1 goes first for Dunk #2).

The dunker with the highest Final Round composite score (Dunk #1 + Dunk #2) will be the Dunk Champion.

TIEBREAKERS In the event a tie in the First Round needs to be broken in order to determine one or both of the top two finishers, a one-dunk “dunk-off” involving the tied players will take place to determine which player(s) will advance to the Final Round. In the event of a tie after the Final Round, a one-dunk dunk-off will take place to determine the champion. If still tied after the one-dunk “dunk-off” in either round, the advancing dunker(s) or winner would be determined by “Judges’ Choice.” The judges would then be asked to choose the advancing dunker(s) or winner by raising a card that has the dunker’s name on it. Consistent with the rules applicable to the First Round and the Final Round, each dunker will have three attempts to complete a dunk in any dunk-off.

NBA ALL-STAR OFFICIALS MTN DEW KICKSTART RISING STARS/ STATE FARM ALL-STAR SATURDAY NIGHT

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188 | NBA All-Star 2018

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SCREENING FOR CANCER

TREATMENT

Prostate cancer screening is via Â&#x2030; Ã¦Â³Ã&#x2039;Ã&#x;Ã&#x2026;Â Â&#x2022;Ã&#x2026;Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x201C;Â&#x153; ÃÂ Ã¦Ã Ð&#x201E; ÃÂ°Â V] Ð&#x201E; Ã¾Â°Â³Â&#x2013;Â° Â&#x2013;Â°Â Â&#x2013;Ã&#x201A;Ã¦ ÃÂ°Â Â&#x2013;Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x152;Â&#x2013;Â Ã&#x152;ÃÃ¢Â&#x2030;ÃÂ³Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x152; Ã&#x201C;Âª Ã&#x;Ã¢Ã&#x201C;Ã¦ÃÂ&#x2030;ÃÂ Ð&#x201E;Ã¦Ã&#x;Â Â&#x2013;Â³Ä&#x201D;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;ÃÂ³Â«Â Ã&#x152;Ã¦Ï&#x;

Early Detection â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Early diagnosis Â&#x2030;Ã&#x2026;Ã&#x2026;Ã&#x201C;Ã¾Ã¦ ÂªÃ&#x201C;Ã¢ Ã&#x2039;Ã&#x201C;Ã¢Â ÃÃ¢Â Â&#x2030;ÃÃ&#x2039;Â Ã&#x152;Ã Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x;ÃÂ³Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x152;Ã¦ Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x153; Ã&#x2026;Â Â&#x2030;Â&#x153;Ã¦ ÃÃ&#x201C; ÂªÂ&#x2030;Ã¢ Ã&#x2039;Ã&#x201C;Ã¢Â ÂªÂ&#x2030;Ã½Ã&#x201C;Ã¢Â&#x2030;Â&#x2022;Ã&#x2026;Â outcomes.

There is a strong correlation Â&#x2022;Â ÃÃ¾Â Â Ã&#x152; Â&#x2022;Ã&#x201C;ÃÂ° Â Ã&#x2026;Â Ã½Â&#x2030;ÃÂ Â&#x153; V] Ã&#x2026;Â Ã½Â Ã&#x2026;Ã¦ and/or high percentage changes Â³Ã&#x152; Ã¦Â&#x2013;Ã&#x201C;Ã¢Â Ã¦ Â&#x2022;Â ÃÃ¾Â Â Ã&#x152; ÃÂ Ã¦ÃÃ¦ Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x153; ÃÂ°Â Ã&#x;Ã¢Â Ã¦Â Ã&#x152;Â&#x2013;Â Ã&#x201C;Âª Ã&#x;Ã¢Ã&#x201C;Ã¦ÃÂ&#x2030;ÃÂ Â&#x2013;Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x2013;Â Ã¢Ï&#x; Yet, there are other conditions Â&#x2022;Â Ã¦Â³Â&#x153;Â Ã¦ Ã&#x;Ã¢Ã&#x201C;Ã¦ÃÂ&#x2030;ÃÂ Â&#x2013;Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x2013;Â Ã¢ ÃÂ°Â&#x2030;Ã Â&#x2013;Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152; raise PSA levels.

Active Surveillance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Increasingly Ã&#x2039;Â Ã&#x152; Ã¾Â³ÃÂ° Ã&#x2039;Â³Ã&#x2026;Â&#x153;Â Ã¢ Â&#x2013;Â&#x2030;Ã¦Â Ã¦ Ã&#x201C;Âª Ã&#x;Ã¢Ã&#x201C;Ã¦ÃÂ&#x2030;ÃÂ Â&#x2013;Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x2013;Â Ã¢ Â&#x2030;Ã¢Â Â&#x2030;Â&#x153;Ã½Â³Ã¦Â Â&#x153; Â&#x2022;Ä&#x201E; Â&#x153;Ã&#x201C;Â&#x2013;ÃÃ&#x201C;Ã¢Ã¦ ÃÃ&#x201C; Â&#x2022;Â Â«Â³Ã&#x152; Ã¾Â³ÃÂ° Ã&#x152;Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x152;Ð&#x201E;Ã¦Ã²Ã¢Â«Â³Â&#x2013;Â&#x2030;Ã&#x2026; ÃÃ¢Â Â&#x2030;ÃÃ&#x2039;Â Ã&#x152;Ã Ð&#x201E; Ã&#x2039;Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x152;Â³ÃÃ&#x201C;Ã¢Â³Ã&#x152;Â« ÃÃ²Ã&#x2039;Ã&#x201C;Ã¢Ã¦ Ã½Â³Â&#x2030; ÃÂ°Â V] Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x153; Ã&#x201C;ÃÂ°Â Ã¢ Â&#x2022;Ã&#x2026;Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x201C;Â&#x153; ÃÂ Ã¦ÃÃ¦ Ð&#x201E; ÃÃ&#x201C; measure the diseaseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress.

High or rapidly changing PSA levels can lead to additional tests. cÂ°Â Ã¦Â Â&#x2030;Ã¢Â Ã&#x201C;ÂªÃÂ Ã&#x152; Ã¦Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x;Â°Â³Ã¦ÃÂ³Â&#x2013;Â&#x2030;ÃÂ Â&#x153; Â&#x2022;Ã&#x2026;Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x201C;Â&#x153; ÃÂ Ã¦ÃÃ¦ Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x153; Â&#x2022;Â³Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x;Ã¦Â³Â Ã¦Ï&#x;

Get Another Opinion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; As testing Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x153; Â&#x153;Â ÃÂ Â&#x2013;ÃÂ³Ã&#x201C;Ã&#x152; Ã&#x201C;Âª Ã&#x;Ã¢Ã&#x201C;Ã¦ÃÂ&#x2030;ÃÂ Â&#x2013;Â&#x2030;Ã&#x152;Â&#x2013;Â Ã¢ improve, its treatments evolve. Seeking a second or third opinion is a great approach.

At Fans for the Cure, one of our goals is to become a trusted source for information on prostate cancer, early detection awareness, treatment options, and clinical trials.

Get detailed, fact-based information about prostate cancer on our website. Fans for the Cure is a nonprofit charity, recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS under Section 501(c)(3).

fansforthecure.org/MiLB2017

ALL-STAR GOODS

Men’s Jordan Brand NBA Connected Jersey - All-Star Edition Swingman

Men’s Jordan Brand All-Star On-Court Dri-Fit Long Sleeve Tee

Inspired by the 2018 All-Star uniform, the All-Star Edition Swingman Men’s Jordan NBA Connected Jersey reps your favorite player while helping keep you cool and comfortable through every move. $119.99

The All-Star Edition Jordan Men’s Long-Sleeve NBA Top is a lightweight, breathable shooting shirt. It features mesh fabric to help keep you cool, and strategic shoulder seams and side vents to let you move freely. $79.99

Unisex All-Star Edition Nike Elite Quick Crew Socks The All-Star Edition Nike Elite Quick Unisex NBA Crew Socks help keep your feet cool and comfortable so you can stay focused on the game. They feature elastic in the forefoot for a supportive feel, and lightweight cushioning to help absorb impact on the court. $21.99

Spalding 2018 NBA All-Star Money Ball Men’s Nike All-Star Club Logo Fleece Hoodie The All-Star Edition Nike Men’s NBA Hoodie is softly brushed along the interior for a warm, comfortable feel, and features a lined hood for lightweight coverage. $69.99

Shoot a three pointer for your fandom when you get this 2018 NBA All-Star Game Money Ball from Spalding. It features amazing NBA and All-Star Game graphics and is perfect for your fan cave. $89.99

Available at NBAStore.com. Select styles available at NBA Flagship Store on 545 Fifth Avenue in NYC.

190 | NBA All-Star 2018

Photo By: Peggy Sirota

MAKE BRE AKFAST HAPPEN SO KIDS CAN BE HUNGRY FOR MORE

I was one of our nation’s hungry kids growing up. Today, 1 in 5 children in America struggle with hunger. But when they get breakfast, their days are bigger and brighter. Learning, attention, memory and mood improve. Together, we have the power to get breakfast to kids in your neighborhood — let’s make it happen. Go to hungeris.org and lend your time or your voice. Viola Davis, Hunger Is Ambassador

Hunger Is® is a joint initiative of the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

ALL-STAR RESULTS

Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, 2000 Slam Dunk

JBL Three-Point Contest

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Larry Bird, Boston Larry Bird, Boston Larry Bird, Boston Dale Ellis, Seattle Craig Hodges, Chicago Craig Hodges, Chicago Craig Hodges, Chicago Mark Price, Cleveland Mark Price, Cleveland Glen Rice, Miami Tim Legler, Washington Steve Kerr, Chicago Jeff Hornacek, Utah * Jeff Hornacek, Utah Ray Allen, Milwaukee Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Voshon Lenard, Denver Quentin Richardson, Phoenix Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Jason Kapono, Miami Jason Kapono, Toronto Daequan Cook, Miami Paul Pierce, Boston James Jones, Miami Kevin Love, Minnesota Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Marco Belinelli, San Antonio Stephen Curry, Golden State Klay Thompson, Golden State Eric Gordon, Houston

Verizon Slam Dunk 1984 1985 1986

Larry Nance, Phoenix Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Spud Webb, Atlanta

192 | NBA All-Star 2018

Michael Jordan, Chicago Michael Jordan, Chicago Kenny Walker, New York Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Dee Brown, Boston Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix Harold Miner, Miami Isaiah Rider, Minnesota Harold Miner, Miami Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers No competition held * Vince Carter, Toronto Desmond Mason, Seattle Jason Richardson, Golden State Jason Richardson, Golden State Fred Jones, Indiana Josh Smith, Atlanta Nate Robinson, New York Gerald Green, Boston Dwight Howard, Orlando Nate Robinson, New York Nate Robinson, New York Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers Jeremy Evans, Utah Terrence Ross, Toronto East; John Wall, Washington Zach LaVine, Minnesota Zach LaVine, Minnesota Glenn Robinson III, Indiana

Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Phenoms 74, Sensations 68 White 83, Green 79 (OT) East 94, West 92 East 96, West 91 East 85, West 80

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

* Rookies 92, Sophomores 83 (OT) Sophomores 121, Rookies 113 Rookies 103, Sophomores 97 Sophomores 132, Rookies 112 Sophomores 142, Rookies 118 Sophomores 133, Rookies 106 Sophomores 106, Rookies 96 Sophomores 155, Rookies 114 Sophomores 136, Rookies 109 Sophomores 122, Rookies 116 Rookies 140, Sophomores 128 Rookies 148, Sophomores 140 Team Chuck 146, Team Shaq 133 Team Chuck 163, Team Shaq 135 Team Hill 142, Team Webber 136 Team World 121, Team USA 112 Team USA 157, Team World 154 Team World 150, Team USA 141

Taco Bell Skills Challenge 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Jason Kidd, New Jersey Baron Davis, New Orleans Steve Nash, Phoenix Dwyane Wade, Miami Dwyane Wade, Miami Deron Williams, Utah Derrick Rose, Chicago Steve Nash, Phoenix Stephen Curry, Golden State Tony Parker, San Antonio Damian Lillard, Portland West; Trey Burke & Damian Lillard Patrick Beverley, Houston Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Kristaps Porzingis, New York

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN (2)/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Larry Bird, 1987 Three-Point Contest

ALL-STAR RESULTS

(L-R) Shaquille Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal, Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Gary Payton, Peja Stojakovic, 2003 All-Star Game

Bob Lanier, 1974 All-Star Game MVP

All-Star Games at a Glance Result and Location East 111, West 94 at Boston East 108, West 91 at Boston West 79, East 75 at Fort Wayne East 98, West 93 (OT) at New York East 100, West 91 at New York West 108, East 94 at Rochester East 109, West 97 at Boston East 130, West 118 at St. Louis West 124, East 108 at Detroit East 125, West 115 at Philadelphia West 153, East 131 at Syracuse West 150, East 130 at St. Louis East 115, West 108 at Los Angeles East 111, West 107 at Boston East 124, West 123 at St. Louis East 137, West 94 at Cincinnati West 135, East 120 at San Francisco East 144, West 124 at New York East 123, West 112 at Baltimore East 142, West 135 at Philadelphia West 108, East 107 at San Diego West 112, East 110 at Los Angeles East 104, West 84 at Chicago West 134, East 123 at Seattle East 108, West 102 at Phoenix East 123, West 109 at Philadelphia West 125, East 124 at Milwaukee East 133, West 125 at Atlanta West 134, East 129 at Pontiac East 144, West 136 (OT) at Landover East 123, West 120 at Richfield East 120, West 118 at E. Rutherford East 132, West 123 at Los Angeles

194 | NBA All-Star 2018

Winning Coach Joe Lapchick Al Cervi John Kundla Joe Lapchick Al Cervi Charley Eckman Red Auerbach Red Auerbach Ed Macauley Red Auerbach Paul Seymour Fred Schaus Red Auerbach Red Auerbach Red Auerbach Red Auerbach Fred Schaus Alex Hannum Gene Shue Red Holzman Larry Costello Bill Sharman Tom Heinsohn Larry Costello K.C. Jones Tom Heinsohn Larry Brown Billy Cunningham Lenny Wilkens Billy Cunningham Billy Cunningham Bill Fitch Billy Cunningham

Losing Coach John Kundla John Kundla Joe Lapchick John Kundla Charley Eckman George Senesky Bobby Wanzer Alex Hannum Red Auerbach Ed Macauley Red Auerbach Red Auerbach Fred Schaus Fred Schaus Alex Hannum Fred Schaus Red Auerbach Bill Sharman Richie Guerin Richie Guerin Red Holzman Tom Heinsohn Bill Sharman Tom Heinsohn Al Attles Al Attles Gene Shue Jack Ramsay Dick Motta Lenny Wilkens John MacLeod Pat Riley Pat Riley

All-Star Game MVP Ed Macauley Paul Arizin George Mikan Bob Cousy Bill Sharman Bob Pettit Bob Cousy Bob Pettit Elgin Baylor/Bob Pettit Wilt Chamberlain Oscar Robertson Bob Pettit Bill Russell Oscar Robertson Jerry Lucas Adrian Smith Rick Barry Hal Greer Oscar Robertson Willis Reed Lenny Wilkens Jerry West Dave Cowens Bob Lanier Walt Frazier Dave Bing Julius Erving Randy Smith David Thompson George Gervin Tiny Archibald Larry Bird Julius Erving

NATHANIEL S. BUTLER; NBA PHOTOS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Year 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

GOOD CREDIT. GOOD JOBS. GOOD REFERENCES.

BUT THE LANDLORD DENIED THEM THE APARTMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE.

AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY. It’s against the law for landlords to deny your application, give you the run around, charge you more rent, or steer you away from a rental complex or neighborhood because of your race. If you suspect housing discrimination, ﬁle a complaint with HUD or your local fair housing center, so we can investigate it.

To ﬁle a complaint, go to hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777

FAIR HOUSING IS YOUR RIGHT. USE IT. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

ALL-STAR RESULTS

Anthony Davis, 2017 All-Star Game

LeBron James, 2004 Rising Stars Challenge

All-Star Games at a Glance Result and Location East 154, West 145 (OT) at Denver West 140, East 129 at Indianapolis East 139, West 132 at Dallas West 154, East 149 (OT) at Seattle East 138, West 133 at Chicago West 143, East 134 at Houston East 130, West 113 at Miami East 116, West 114 at Charlotte West 153, East 113 at Orlando West 135, East 132 (OT) at Salt Lake City East 127, West 118 at Minneapolis West 139, East 112 at Phoenix East 129, West 118 at San Antonio East 132, West 120 at Cleveland East 135, West 114 at New York * West 137, East 126 at Oakland East 111, West 110 at Washington, DC West 135, East 120 at Philadelphia West 155, East 145 (2OT) at Atlanta West 136, East 132 at Los Angeles East 125, West 115 at Denver East 122, West 120 at Houston West 153, East 132 at Las Vegas East 134, West 128 at New Orleans West 146, East 119 at Phoenix East 141, West 139 at Dallas West 148, East 143 at Los Angeles West 152, East 149 at Orlando West 143, East 138 at Houston East 163, West 155 at New Orleans West 163, East 158 at New York West 196, East 173 at Toronto West 192, East 182 at New Orleans

*No competitions were held in ’99.

196 | NBA All-Star 2018

Winning Coach K.C. Jones Pat Riley K.C. Jones Pat Riley Mike Fratello Pat Riley Chuck Daly Chris Ford Don Nelson Paul Westphal Lenny Wilkens Paul Westphal Phil Jackson Doug Collins Larry Bird

Losing Coach Frank Layden K.C. Jones Pat Riley K.C. Jones Pat Riley Lenny Wilkens Pat Riley Rick Adelman Phil Jackson Pat Riley George Karl Brian Hill George Karl Rudy Tomjanovich George Karl

All-Star Game MVP Isiah Thomas Ralph Sampson Isiah Thomas Tom Chambers Michael Jordan Karl Malone Magic Johnson Charles Barkley Magic Johnson Karl Malone/John Stockton Scottie Pippen Mitch Richmond Michael Jordan Glen Rice Michael Jordan

Phil Jackson Larry Brown Don Nelson Rick Adelman Flip Saunders Stan Van Gundy Flip Saunders Mike D’Antoni Doc Rivers Phil Jackson Stan Van Gundy Gregg Popovich Scott Brooks Gregg Popovich Frank Vogel Steve Kerr Gregg Popovich Steve Kerr

Jeff Van Gundy Rick Adelman Byron Scott Isiah Thomas Rick Carlisle Gregg Popovich Avery Johnson Eddie Jordan Byron Scott Mike Brown George Karl Doc Rivers Tom Thibodeau Erik Spoelstra Scott Brooks Mike Budenholzer Tyronn Lue Brad Stevens

Tim Duncan/Shaquille O’Neal Allen Iverson Kobe Bryant Kevin Garnett Shaquille O’Neal Allen Iverson LeBron James Kobe Bryant LeBron James Kobe Bryant/Shaquille O’Neal Dwyane Wade Kobe Bryant Kevin Durant Chris Paul Kyrie Irving Russell Westbrook Russell Westbrook Anthony Davis

JESSE D. GARRABRANT; NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Year 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

CHANGING THE WORLD IS A CONTACT SPORT. People with intellectual disabilities are excluded and discriminated against every day. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time we team up and take to the field to change this. Together, as one, intolerance and injustice donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stand a chance. Game On! Join the team at playunified.org

ALL-STAR ROSTERS Through 2017

Kobe Bryant, 2002 All-Star Game MVP

198 | NBA All-Star 2018

Frank Brian Bill Bridges Fred Brown Kobe Bryant Don Buse Caron Butler Jimmy Butler Andrew Bynum Joe Caldwell Austin Carr Joe Barry Carroll Vince Carter Bill Cartwright Sam Cassell Cedric Ceballos Wilt Chamberlain Tom Chambers Tyson Chandler Len Chappell Maurice Cheeks Phil Chenier Archie Clark Nat Clifton Derrick Coleman Jack Coleman Doug Collins Larry Costello DeMarcus Cousins Bob Cousy Dave Cowens Terry Cummings Billy Cunningham Stephen Curry Bob Dandridge Adrian Dantley Brad Daugherty Bob Davies Anthony Davis Antonio Davis Baron Davis Dale Davis Walter Davis

Dave DeBusschere Luol Deng DeMar DeRozan Terry Dischinger James Donaldson John Drew Clyde Drexler Andre Drummond Kevin Duckworth Walter Dukes Joe Dumars Tim Duncan Kevin Durant Mark Eaton Dike Eddleman Sean Elliott Dale Ellis Wayne Embry Alex English Julius Erving Patrick Ewing Ray Felix Michael Finley Eric Floyd Larry Foust Steve Francis Walt Frazier World B. Free Joe Fulks Billy Gabor Harry Gallatin Dick Garmaker Kevin Garnett Marc Gasol Pau Gasol Chris Gatling Jack George Paul George George Gervin Artis Gilmore Manu Ginobili Tom Gola

Gail Goodrich Danny Granger Horace Grant A.C. Green Draymond Green Johnny Green Rickey Green Hal Greer Blake Griffin Alex Groza Richie Guerin Tom Gugliotta Cliff Hagan Richard Hamilton Anfernee Hardaway Tim Hardaway James Harden Devin Harris Bob Harrison John Havlicek Connie Hawkins Hersey Hawkins Elvin Hayes Gordon Hayward Spencer Haywood Walt Hazzard Tom Heinsohn Roy Hibbert Grant Hill Tyrone Hill Jrue Holiday Lionel Hollins Al Horford Jeff Hornacek Allan Houston Dwight Howard Juwan Howard Bailey Howell Lou Hudson Rod Hundley Mel Hutchins Andre Iguodala

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Darrall Imhoff Kyrie Irving Dan Issel Allen Iverson Luke Jackson Mark Jackson LeBron James Antawn Jamison Dennis Johnson Earvin Johnson Eddie Johnson Gus Johnson Joe Johnson John Johnson Kevin Johnson Larry Johnson Marques Johnson Neil Johnston Bobby Jones Eddie Jones Sam Jones DeAndre Jordan Michael Jordan Chris Kaman Bob Kauffman Larry Kenon Johnny Kerr Shawn Kemp Jason Kidd Bernard King Jim King Andrei Kirilenko Billy Knight Don Kojis Kyle Korver Sam Lacey Christian Laettner Bill Laimbeer Bob Lanier Rudy LaRusso Clyde Lee

NOREN TROTMAN; JOE MURPHY/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Shareef Abdur-Rahim Alvan Adams Michael Adams Mark Aguirre Danny Ainge LaMarcus Aldridge Ray Allen Kenny Anderson Giannis Antetokounmpo Carmelo Anthony Tiny Archibald Gilbert Arenas Paul Arizin B.J. Armstrong Ron Artest Vin Baker Charles Barkley Don Barksdale Dick Barnett Leo Barnhorst Dana Barros Rick Barry Elgin Baylor Butch Beard Ralph Beard Zelmo Beatty Walt Bellamy Chauncey Billups Dave Bing Larry Bird Otis Birdsong Rolando Blackman Mookie Blaylock John Block Bob Boozer Carlos Boozer Vince Boryla Chris Bosh Bill Bradley Elton Brand Carl Braun

Karl-Anthony Towns, 2016 Skills Challenge

As we continue to swing for the fences, we know that any advancement can have a life-changing impact.

Whatever it takes.

Stand up for the 16 million people living with cancer in the U.S. and Canada. Visit StandUpToCancer.org/MLB

Stand Up To Cancer is a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) organization. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Visit MLB.com

ALL-STAR ROSTERS

Allen Iverson and Steve Nash, 2006 All-Star Game

200 | NBA All-Star 2018

Vern Mikkelsen Eddie Miles Paul Millsap Brad Miller Reggie Miller Mike Mitchell Steve Mix Sidney Moncrief Earl Monroe Alonzo Mourning Chris Mullin Jeff Mullins Calvin Murphy Dikembe Mutombo Larry Nance Steve Nash Calvin Natt Willie Naulls Jameer Nelson Norm Nixon Joakim Noah Chuck Noble Dirk Nowitzki Charles Oakley Don Ohl Hakeem Olajuwon Jermaine O’Neal Shaquille O’Neal Robert Parish Tony Parker Chris Paul Jim Paxson Gary Payton Geoff Petrie Bob Pettit Andy Philip Paul Pierce Ricky Pierce

Scottie Pippen Jim Pollard Terry Porter Jim Price Mark Price Zach Randolph Theo Ratliff Michael Redd Willis Reed Richie Regan Glen Rice Micheal Ray Richardson Mitch Richmond Arnie Risen Glenn Rivers Alvin Robertson Oscar Robertson Clifford Robinson David Robinson Flynn Robinson Glenn Robinson Truck Robinson Red Rocha Guy Rodgers Dennis Rodman Rajon Rondo Derrick Rose Dan Roundfield Curtis Rowe Brandon Roy Jeff Ruland Bob Rule Bill Russell Campy Russell Cazzie Russell Ralph Sampson Woody Sauldsberry Fred Schaus

Dolph Schayes Detlef Schrempf Fred Scolari Charlie Scott Ken Sears Frank Selvy Paul Seymour Lee Shaffer Bill Sharman Lonnie Shelton Gene Shue Jack Sikma Paul Silas Jerry Sloan Adrian Smith Phil Smith Randy Smith Steve Smith Rik Smits Latrell Sprewell Jerry Stackhouse John Starks John Stockton Peja Stojakovic Maurice Stokes Amar’e Stoudemire Don Sunderlage Wally Szczerbiak Jeff Teague Reggie Theus Isaiah Thomas Isiah Thomas David Thompson Klay Thompson Otis Thorpe Nate Thurmond Rudy Tomjanovich Andrew Toney

Kelly Tripucka Jack Twyman Wes Unseld Dick Van Arsdale Tom Van Arsdale Kiki Vandeweghe Nick Van Exel Norm Van Lier Dwyane Wade Antoine Walker Chet Walker Jimmy Walker Kemba Walker John Wall Ben Wallace Gerald Wallace Rasheed Wallace Paul Walther Bill Walton Bobby Wanzer Kermit Washington Chris Webber Scott Wedman David West Jerry West Russell Westbrook Paul Westphal Jo Jo White Sidney Wicks Lenny Wilkens Jamaal Wilkes Dominique Wilkins Buck Williams Deron Williams Gus Williams Jayson Williams Mo Williams Kevin Willis

CHRIS GRAYTHEN; ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES

David Lee Kawhi Leonard Lafayette Lever Rashard Lewis Reggie Lewis Damian Lillard Brook Lopez Bob Love Kevin Love Clyde Lovellette Kyle Lowry Jerry Lucas Maurice Lucas Ed Macauley Jamaal Magloire Dan Majerle Jeff Malone Karl Malone Moses Malone Danny Manning Pete Maravich Stephon Marbury Shawn Marion Jack Martin Kenyon Martin Slater Martin Jamal Mashburn Anthony Mason Bob McAdoo Xavier McDaniel Antonio McDyess George McGinnis Jon McGlocklin Tracy McGrady Dick McGuire Kevin McHale Tom Meschery George Mikan

Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson, 1986 All-Star Game

Skilled • Qualified Workforce Building Los Angeles www.local300.com • www.scdcl.org • www.liunapsw.org

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT COUNCIL Business Manager Jon P. Preciado, (626) 350-6900

LABORERS’ LOCAL UNION 300 Business Manager Sergio Rascon, (213) 385-3550

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION Regional Manager Rocco Davis, (916) 604-5576

Organic carrots! Or low-cut socks?

If you were Chris Paul, you’d know that your State Farm agent is clearly acting out “organic carrots.” You two would have that kind of shorthand, that shared understanding behind every great relationship. You can also get an agent that gets you like this. With over 18,000 State Farm agents across the country, there’s a fit that’s right for everyone. Just be warned that no one will ever want to play charades with you two. It’d just be unfair. ®

Get an agent that gets you.

statefarm.com

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Bloomington, IL