The NBA All-Star Game is an annual basketball exhibition game held in February featuring 24 of the NBA's top players. Part of NBA All-Star Weekend, a three-day event, it takes place on the third Sunday of February, coinciding with the Daytona 500 and one week after the Super Bowl. The first All-Star Game took place on March 2, 1951, at the Boston Garden.
1962: First Instance of Four All-Star Players from a Single Team
The 1962 NBA All-Star Game marked the first time four players from the same team, both the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, were selected as All-Stars.
1982: Implementation of the "Riley Rule"
The "Riley Rule," prohibiting consecutive All-Star Game coaching appearances, was established in 1982. This rule was put in place to prevent coaches from repeatedly leading the All-Star team after Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley coached the Western Conference team eight times in nine seasons between 1982 and 1990.
1990: End of Pat Riley's Coaching Streak
Pat Riley's streak of coaching the Western Conference All-Star team eight times in nine seasons ended in 1990, prompting the establishment of the "Riley Rule."
1996: Michael Jordan's Second All-Star MVP Award
Michael Jordan won his second NBA All-Star Game MVP award in 1996.
1997: Introduction of Special Uniforms and Player Number Continuity
From 1997 onward, the NBA All-Star Game featured specially designed uniforms for each conference, typically red for the Western Conference and blue for the Eastern Conference. Additionally, players were allowed to keep their regular season uniform numbers.
2000: First Halftime Show at NBA All-Star Game
The 2000 NBA All-Star Game marked the introduction of musical performances during halftime, featuring artists like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mary J. Blige, 98 Degrees, Montell Jordan, Martina McBride, and LL Cool J.
2002: End of Players Wearing Team Uniforms
The period between 1997 and 2002 marked a departure from the tradition of players wearing special uniforms in the NBA All-Star Game.
2003: Multilingual All-Star Ballots Introduced
In 2003, the NBA introduced All-Star ballots in English, Spanish, and Chinese to expand fan participation in voting for the starting lineup.
2007: Kobe Bryant Plays Point Guard in All-Star Game
In the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, Kobe Bryant, typically a shooting guard, started as point guard alongside fellow shooting guard Tracy McGrady due to the fan voting process.
2010: Change in Uniform Color Scheme
From 2010 to 2014, the NBA All-Star Game saw a change in the traditional uniform color scheme, with the "host conference" not wearing light uniforms.
2013: Change in Frontcourt Player Selection
Before 2013, fans voted for two forwards and one center for the All-Star Game. The NBA changed this to a generic frontcourt selection.
2014: Return to Traditional Uniform Colors
The NBA All-Star Game reverted to the traditional uniform color scheme in 2014, with the "host conference" wearing light uniforms.
March 23, 2016: North Carolina's "Bathroom Bill" and NBA All-Star Game Relocation
On March 23, 2016, North Carolina passed House Bill 2, a controversial "bathroom bill." This led the NBA to threaten moving the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte if the bill wasn't repealed or revised.
July 21, 2016: NBA Relocates 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte
Due to North Carolina's lack of action on House Bill 2, the NBA announced on July 21, 2016, that the 2017 All-Star Game would be moved from Charlotte to New Orleans.
March 2017: Partial Repeal of North Carolina's "Bathroom Bill" and Awarding of 2019 All-Star Game
Following the partial repeal of House Bill 2 in March 2017, the NBA awarded the 2019 All-Star Weekend to Charlotte, North Carolina.
October 3, 2017: NBA Announces Format Changes for All-Star Game
The NBA and NBPA announced changes to the All-Star Game format on October 3, 2017, starting in 2018. The new format involved team captains drafting players regardless of conference affiliation rather than the traditional East vs. West format.
2017: Change to All-Star Game Voting System
In 2017, the NBA shifted from a solely fan-based voting system for All-Star starters to a weighted system, with fan votes accounting for 50%, and player and media votes each contributing 25%.
2018: Introduction of All-Star Game Draft
From 2018 to 2023, the NBA All-Star Game adopted a new format where team captains, chosen as the leading vote-getters from each conference, drafted players regardless of their conference affiliation.
2018: Golden State Warriors Tie Record with Four All-Star Selections
The Golden State Warriors tied the record for most All-Star players from one team in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, with four players selected.
2018: Implementation of New All-Star Game Format
The NBA All-Star Game adopted a new format starting in 2018, where team captains drafted players irrespective of their conference.
2019: Charlotte Hosts the All-Star Game
The 2019 All-Star Weekend took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the partial repeal of the controversial "bathroom bill."
2020: Elam Ending Debuts in NBA All-Star Game with Kobe Bryant Tribute
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game implemented the Elam Ending, turning off the game clock in the fourth quarter and setting a target score. This format debuted as a tribute to Kobe Bryant, with 24 points added to the leading team's score at the end of the third quarter, representing Bryant's jersey number.
2020: Introduction of the Elam Ending
The Elam Ending, a format where the game clock is turned off in the fourth quarter and a target score is set, was introduced in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game as a tribute to Kobe Bryant.
2022: NBA All-Star Game Scheduling Change
Since 2022, the NBA All-Star Game has been held on the third Sunday of February, coinciding with the Daytona 500 and one week after the Super Bowl.
October 25, 2023: NBA Reverts to Conference-Based Format and Removes Elam Ending
On October 25, 2023, the NBA announced the return to a conference-based format for the 2024 All-Star Game and the removal of the Elam Ending in the fourth quarter.
2023: End of the All-Star Game Draft Format
The NBA All-Star Game draft format, where captains drafted players regardless of conference, ended in 2023.
2023: Data Reflects Games Up to 2023
The information regarding the NBA All-Star Game series record is current as of the 2023 game.
2024: Eastern Conference Leads All-Star Game Series
As of the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, the Eastern Conference holds the lead in the series with 38 wins compared to the Western Conference's 29 wins.
2024: Return to Conference-Based Format
The NBA All-Star Game will revert to a conference-based format in 2024.