Originating
in 1951, the NBA coaches have famously selected players from other
teams to form a group of talented players to take part in the All-Star
NBA weekend. This division of the NBA offers a unique opportunity to
see different team dynamics and allow players to blow off some steam
while bonding with players who are usually their opponents. Coaches
aren’t allowed to select their own players, which is part of what makes
it so interesting.
Some of the more iconic players throughout the history of the National
Basketball Association (NBA) have often been named as All-Stars and
taken part in this event. It’s a great chance for players to prove
themselves and, in some cases, live up to their reputations. There are
usually two teams split into divisions- Western and Eastern. The
star-studded teams compete against each other in the conference. Thanks
to the involvement of fantasy leagues and betting, people are beginning
to make predictions about the future All-Star players. Accurate
information and more detail can be found by looking at the NBA player future odds.
These are some top All-Star teams seen throughout the history of the NBA.
2016 West All-Stars
This year saw records being set thanks to the Western conference of
All-Stars. The most points scored was an impressive 196 and the Air
Canada center saw the most field goals attempted in a quarter. Kobe
Bryant received an enormous 18 votes for the team, and the player is
one of the reasons why this team was so monumental. Of course,
underdogs like Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant carried the game for the
most part. Bryant was, however, one of the reasons why TV coverage was
so immense.
1987 West All-Stars
Another impressive combination saw gains for the western conference in
1987. With the record for the most free throws made by each team, it
was certainly a highly energetic event. That year’s All-Star players
included the LA Lakers’ Magic Johnson, Tom Chambers, James Worthy, and
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Those from the Golden State Warriors were Sleepy
Floyd and Joe Barry Carroll. Not to mention the Dallas Mavericks’ own
Rolando Blackman, and Mark Aguirre, and the San Antonio Spurs’ Alvin
Robertson. An Addition from the Phoenix Suns was Walter Davis. Alex
English was voted in from the Denver Nuggets, and the Houston Rockets’
Akeem Olajuwon. Coached by Pat Riley, this team was definitely a
powerhouse.
2008 East All-Stars
A tight game saw the 2008 result by the skin of the East conference
team’s teeth. Truly an intense game and with many on the edges of their
seats, players were selected from the Miami Heats, Cleveland Cavaliers,
and New Jersey Nets. Jason Kidd played an important role within this
team as he brought a different perspective from the New Jersey Nets.
Thanks to the Miami Heats, Dwayne Wade was also an essential part of
the team. Not to mention the iconic LeBron James, whose reputation
exceeds him. Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic and Kevin Garnett
from the Boston Celtics completed this line-up and created a diverse,
well-oiled machine of an All-Star team.
1966 East All-Stars
Another highly influential addition to the All-Star lineup was the 1966
East conference team. Huge gains were seen this year, and they defeated
the Western lineup 137-94. MVP Adrian Smith led the team to victory,
but other players who had a part to play included Wilt Chamberlain,
John Havelick, Oscar Robertson, Chet Walker, Willis Reed, and Bill
Russell.
1992 West All-Stars
This game was another effective combination of strength, power, speed,
and team communication. The western conference team dominated the
eastern team with a final score of 153-113. Iconic scenes occurred
all-round for this weekend, and halftime shows featured the one and
only Vanilla Ice. Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin, Karl
Malone, and David Robinson were the real stars of the show as they
worked hard to secure those wins.
Coaches were previously the only ones who could vote in players to be
part of the All-Star lineup, however, there is now the option for fans
to make some selections of their favorite players or even those who
they think would work well together. The All-Star games are much more
interactive and heavily covered by the media, which means that the
experience is a lot more interactive than it has been in the past.
Thanks to video games and fantasy football leagues, more people are
enjoying acting as sports team managers and putting players together or
in different positions than they usually play at.
To conclude, the NBA
has really allowed players to come into their own during these iconic
weekends. It has encouraged coaches to appreciate the role that team
dynamics play and the importance of assessing effective communication
and respect. Certain personalities simply don’t get along, which is why
a lot of coaches and managers work hard to decide which players go
where.