To witness history is a very special occasion. It is a moment where greatness is achieved and a moment is etched in the minds of those who watch or see it in person for a long time. It is also allows for a chance of reflection of the true greatness from the past that gives the chance to appreciate the present and provides inspiration, motivation and anticipation for the future. All of that and was on display last Sunday at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, FL.
In a game that had highlight after highlight, above the rim and from behind the 3-point line, the Western Conference lead Most Valuable Player of the game Oklahoma City Thunder superstar forward Kevin Durant’s 36 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals as the Western Conference All-Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All-Stars 152-149 in the 61st Annual NBA All-Star Game.
The 301 total points are the second most in All-Star Game history, two shy of the 303 scored in the 1987 contest, which was decided in overtime. The 301 total points are the most in an All-Star decided in a 48 regulation contest.
The 88-point output that the West had at intermission was an All-Star Game record. The previous mark was set by the West at the 1989 Game in Houston, TX. The 157 total points scored by the East and West at intermission of last Sunday’s All-Star Game tied the record that was accomplished at the 1988 All-Star Game in Houston.
Durant in winning M.V.P honors the first player in Thunder history to win the award since Tom Chambers did it in the 1987 contest when the team was known as the Seattle Supersonics. He led the West All-Stars to victory in overtime 154-149 in front of the hometown faithful.
“It’s a dream come true man. I’m just blessed to be here,” Durant told Turner Network Television’s (TNT’s) Ernie Johnson after the game.
“These guys behind me were trying to feed me the ball and it was a lot of fun. I’m glad I’m taking this back to Oklahoma City.”
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was brilliant as well with 27 points on 9 for 17 from the floor and he also made a little history in the process. In the third quarter, Bryant scored on a breakaway dunk with 4:57 left, making him the all-time leading scorer in All-Star Game history with 271 total points scored. He came in with 244 points scored in his previous 13 All-Star Game appearances ranking him 5th all-time. He passed Oscar Robertson (246 points), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan (262 points).
Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin scored 22 points and pulled down eight boards and his Clipper teammate Chris Paul had eight points, five boards and 12 assists. Durant’s Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook scored 21 points and had five boards. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love had 17 points and seven rebounds.
The East was led in a losing cause by Miami Heat forward LeBron James who scored 36 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out seven assists. He went 14 for 25 from the floor, including going 6 for 8 from 3-point land. His six hits from long distance is a new All-Star Game record. James also bumped his All-Star Game scoring average to 25.9 ppg, which is the highest average in All-Star Game history. Second is Bryant with a 20.8 scoring average, followed by Oscar Robertson (20.5 ppg) and Bob Pettit (20.4 ppg).
The East connected on 14 treys, which is also a new All-Star Game record, breaking the West’s old mark of 13 triples set in the 2002 exhibition in Philadelphia. The two teams combined to hit 26 3’s, breaking the old mark of 22 set in the aforementioned 2002 All-Star contest.
Miami’s other representative in the Game Dwyane Wade had just the third triple double in All-Star Game history with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. James was the second player to accomplish that feat at last year’s game with 29 points, 12 boards and 10 dimes. The first to do it was Jordan in 1997 when he had 14 points, 11 boards and 11 feeds.
“Well I mean were all competitors and we want to win,” Wade said to TNT’s Craig Sager after the game.
“Once we came back, got to within 10 we was like, ‘hey lets go try to get it.’ Its unfortunate a couple of plays down the stretch, I had one, I lost it. A turnover by me teammate, but all in all we had a lot of fun. It was very competitive. Hopefully we gave the fans a good show.”
New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams had 20 points on 8 for 11 from the floor, including going 4 for 7 from the 3-point line. New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points and grabbed nine boards. Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose had 14 points and Philadelphia 76ers swingman Andre Iguodala scored 12 points.
What made this particular All-Star Game very special beyond what was happening on the floor is that 20 years ago, the All-Star Game was held at the old building where the hometown Orlando Magic played, the Orlando Arena and is where the last All-Star Game took place in the sunshine state.
This was the game where ESPN/ABC basketball analyst Earvin “Magic” Johnson played for the first time since announcing his retirement before the 1991-92 after contracting HIV. He was magnificent in the contest winning M.V.P honors with a 25-point nine assist efforts. Beyond the numbers though it was the love and admiration that he got from the crowd and the players like Jordan, Scottie Pippen (Bulls), Isiah Thomas (Detroit Pistons). It showed the nation that one can have something as serious as “Magic” had, but that it did not have put a stop to him living and doing what he loved. It was a teaching moment as well as an educational one. Since then, the man that brought “Showtime” to L.A. has gone on to live, with the help of medication, a productive life in the business world and talking about pro hoops for ESPN/ABC.
The 2012 All-Star Game was one to remember for the records that were broken. For the stars that showed us why they are the best of the best in the National Basketball Association and for us as fans of the NBA, the thrill, joy and pride we take in seeing greatness before us.
Statistics, Information and Quotations are courtesy of 2/26/12 7:30 p.m. 61st Annual 2012 NBA All-Star Game on TNT from Amway Center in Orlando, FL with Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller, Craig Sager and David Aldridge; 2/26/12 10 p.m. edition of “Inside the NBA” on NBATV with Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Craig Sager; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_NBA_All-Star_Game; www.chicagonow.com/bullsville/2012/02/nba-all-star-game-box-score-and-post-game-notes.
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