NBA All-Star Weekend's most spectacular moments
All-Star Weekend is just days away, and some spectacular plays surely await us. Before that, let's look back at some of the best all time All-Star moments.
The NBA has worked year in and year out to make the All-Star Weekend an attractive event that fans actually look forward to, unlike other All-Star events like the Pro Bowl.
Cleveland is the reason
Celebrities, NBA legends and sports stars alike mark their calendars to make sure they are in attendance for All Star Weekend because each and every year the NBA’s midseason exhibition leaves plenty of memories from the weekend, not to mention the extracurricular activities that accompany it.
To celebrate the 71st edition of the NBA All-Star weekend we will take you back through the seven most dazzling moments of the first 70.
MJ’s free throw line dunk
Michael transcended space, time and gravity with his iconic dunk from the free throw line in 1987.
Michael Jordan shut down the dunk contest with his iconic free-throw line dunk 34 years ago today 🤯 pic.twitter.com/o2tQT6NQ8j
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 7, 2021
Zach LaVine brings dunk contest back
The Dunk Contest was begging for a comeback and Zach Levine brought it back with a spectacular show in the 2016 contest.
The best way to enjoy Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon's 2016 Dunk Contest is with the #PhantomCam 🍿 pic.twitter.com/zGOnoylnrs
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 13, 2022
Aaron Gordon over Takco Fall
Gordon dropped jaws by jumping over the tallest man in the league in the 2020 Dunk Contest.
Aaron Gordon dunked over Tacko and DJJ took flight.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 15, 2021
A year ago today, the NBA All-Star Game dunk contest was going down.
Here's the whole thing in 53 seconds. It was one to remember ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/7J9xxc358b
Larry Bird 3-Point Contest
Larry Legend didn’t even need to take his warmups off to win the long ball contest in 1988.
Larry Bird won the '88 3-point contest while still wearing his warm ups.
— ESPN (@espn) July 21, 2020
Legend ☘️ pic.twitter.com/HGSroGwG3B
Vince Carter Dunk Contest
Never before had we seen someone jump like Vince Carter did in 2000. Air Canada’s areal showcase was the the most incredible display of raw dunking power ever.
Greatest NBA Dunk Contest ever?
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 12, 2022
22 years ago today, Vince Carter beat Steve Francis & his cousin, Tracy McGrady, in the epic 2000 Dunk Contest! pic.twitter.com/fKNGOeojO2
T-Mac’s off the backboard alley-oop
It had never been seen before. Tracy McGrady brought the Dunk Contest to an actual game with the assist to himself off the backboard.
Best All-Star game dunk ever?
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 24, 2019
Tracy McGrady revisits his off the backboard dunk from the 2002 NBA All-Star game.
(Via @OrlandoMagic)
pic.twitter.com/bdN185kCxB
Jason Williams elbow pass
Still not sure how he pulled it off, and it hasn't been attempted since. Jason Williams' behind the back, elbow pass in the 2000 Rising Stars Game will forever be the best pass of all time.
Back in the 2000 Rising Stars game, Jason Williams showed off the elbow pass 🏀💪 pic.twitter.com/rx6nFujDia
— ESPN (@espn) February 12, 2020
All-Star Weekend starts on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET and runs all the way until the All-Star Game at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.