1988 All-Star Weekend

By S. Lawrence Bueno

The All-Star Game is a basketball exhibition game organized by the National Basketball Association. It occurs every year and features 24 of the league's greatest players. It is the main event of NBA All-Star Weekend, which usually takes place from Friday to Sunday. The All-Star Game is the most exciting event of the year for all basketball fanatics! Let’s take a look at iconic games that changed the course of history!
 
1988 was a successful year for the Eastern conference and the Chicago Bulls in particular! The one and only Michael Jordan was nominated the Most Valued Player due to his outstanding performance in that game. Consequently, the Eastern conference secured a new trophy for their collection as a commemoration for their victory!
 
Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, who had competed against each other in the slam dunk contest the night before, were on the Eastern Conference squad, as were Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics.

Other teammates included:
Patrick Ewing from the New York Knicks;
Maurice Cheeks, and Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers;
Moses Malone of the Washington Bullets;
Isiah Thomas from the Detroit Pistons;
Doc Rivers of the Atlanta Hawks;
And finally, Brad Daugherty of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
 
Jordan was already a star in the NBA, but this was his big break as the game's golden boy. Jordan dominated Dominique Wilkins in the dunk contest, was named All-Star Game MVP with a near-record 40 points and went on to win the unusual double of league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year that season. Even though the star player was still not winning tournaments, he was progressing.
 
Nonetheless, the Western conference also blossomed with their extraordinary and irreplaceable leader – Magic Johnson (of the Los Angeles Lakers)!
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Clyde Drexler of the Portland Trail Blazers;
Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz;
Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets;
The Lakers' James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar;
The Denver Nuggets' Fat Lever and Alex English;
 The Seattle Supersonics’ Xavier McDaniel;
The San Antonio Spurs' Alvin Robertson;
And the Dallas Mavericks' Mark Aguirre and James Donaldson were among those who joined them.
 
The next All-Star Game will take place on the 20th of February 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio. This will be the 71st edition of the game and many basketball lovers worldwide are already thrilled for the upcoming event! Who are you cheering for?