The 2002 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played on February 10, 2002, at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, home of the Philadelphia 76ers. This game was the 51st edition of the North American NBA All-Star Game and was played during the 2001–02 NBA season.

The venue was originally scheduled for the 1998-99 NBA season, but was cancelled due to the 1998-99 NBA lockout and moved to 2002, which was the next All-Star game that had not yet been awarded to another city. It was the fourth time the city of Philadelphia hosted the All-Star Game, following the 1960 game hosted by the Philadelphia Warriors at the Convention Hall, and the 1970 and 1976 games hosted by the 76ers at their previous home arena, the Spectrum. It was also the fourth All-Star Game hosted by the 76ers franchise, which hosted their first in 1961 as the Syracuse Nationals.

The West defeated the East 135–120, with Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers winning the Most Valuable Player. Bryant scored 31 points, dished 5 assists, and grabbed 5 rebounds, despite being booed by the hometown crowd. Tracy McGrady led the way for the East, scoring 25 points off the bench. He also made one of the most memorable plays in All-Star Game history, the self pass off the backboard dunk.

This was also the last All-Star Game to feature players wearing their respective team jerseys and the last to be seen on over-the-air television until 2026 (all games from 2003 to 2025 aired on the cable channel TNT).

All-Star Game

Coaches

The coach for the Eastern Conference team was Byron Scott, head coach of the Eastern Conference leader New Jersey Nets.

Although the Sacramento Kings had the best record in the Western Conference, their head coach, Rick Adelman, was ineligible to coach in the All-Star Game because he had coached in the 2001 game and league rules prohibit a coach from coaching in consecutive All-Star Games. Consequently, Don Nelson, head coach of the third-place Dallas Mavericks, was named the coach for the Western Conference team per the same rules, as he had coached the game less recently in 1992 than Phil Jackson, head coach of the second-place Los Angeles Lakers who did so in 2000.

Players

The rosters for the All-Star Game were chosen in two ways. The starters were chosen via a fan ballot. Two guards, two forwards and one center who received the highest vote were named the All-Star starters. The reserves were chosen by votes among the NBA head coaches in their respective conferences. The coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. The reserves consist of two guards, two forwards, one center and two players regardless of position. If a player is unable to participate due to injury, the commissioner will select a replacement.

For the third consecutive year, Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors topped the ballots with 1,470,176 votes, which earned him a starting position as a forward in the Eastern Conference team for the third year in a row. Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Antoine Walker, and Dikembe Mutombo completed the Eastern Conference starting position. This was the third consecutive All-Star appearance by Carter and Iverson, and Mutombo's eighth appearance as an All-Star. It also marked Jordan's 13th appearance as an All-Star, and the first after his return from retirement. The Eastern Conference reserves included four first-time selections, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Baron Davis, Jermaine O'Neal, and Paul Pierce. Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, and Alonzo Mourning rounded out the team. Two teams, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics, had two representatives at the All-Star Game with Iverson/Mutombo, and Walker/Pierce.

For the second consecutive year, the Western Conference's leading vote-getter was Shaquille O'Neal, who earned his ninth consecutive All-Star Game selection with 1,247,438 votes. Steve Francis, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tim Duncan completed the Western Conference starting positions. Bryant, Garnett, O'Neal, and Duncan were all starters for the previous year's Western Conference team. Francis became an All-Star for the first time. The Western Conference reserves include five first-time selections, Elton Brand, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojaković, and Wally Szczerbiak. The team is rounded out by Gary Payton, Chris Webber, and Karl Malone. Four teams, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sacramento Kings, had two representations at the All-Star Game with Bryant/O'Neal, Nash/Nowitzki, Garnett/Szczerbiak, and Webber/Stojaković.

Roster

+Eastern Conference All-StarsPosPlayerTeamNo. of selectionsVotesStarters GAllen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers3rd920,502 GMichael JordanWashington Wizards13th985,448 FVince CarterToronto Raptors3rd1,470,176 FAntoine WalkerBoston Celtics2nd547,172 CDikembe MutomboPhiladelphia 76ers8th616,566 Reserves GRay AllenMilwaukee Bucks3rd365,421 GBaron DavisCharlotte Hornets1st127,291 GJason KiddNew Jersey Nets5th442,630 GTracy McGradyOrlando Magic2nd453,276 FPaul PierceBoston Celtics1st254,840 FShareef Abdur-RahimAtlanta Hawks1st335,955 FJermaine O'NealIndiana Pacers1st411,422 CAlonzo MourningMiami Heat7th279,423

+Western Conference All-StarsPosPlayerTeamNo. of selectionsVotesStarters GSteve FrancisHouston Rockets1st456,972 GKobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers4th1,121,753 FKevin GarnettMinnesota Timberwolves5th880,692 FTim DuncanSan Antonio Spurs4th762,289 CShaquille O'NealLos Angeles Lakers9th1,247,438Reserves GSteve NashDallas Mavericks1st278,664 GGary PaytonSeattle SuperSonics8th367,120 FElton BrandLos Angeles Clippers1st160,678 FKarl MaloneUtah Jazz14th163,009 FDirk NowitzkiDallas Mavericks1st398,184 FPeja StojakovićSacramento Kings1st323,664 FWally SzczerbiakMinnesota Timberwolves1st— FChris WebberSacramento Kings4th553,401

Vince Carter and Shaquille O'Neal were unable to participate due to injury. Baron Davis and Elton Brand were named as Carter and O'Neal's replacements respectively. Jason Kidd and Chris Webber were named as starters, replacing Carter and O'Neal respectively

Game

All-Star Weekend

Rookie Challenge

+Rookies Pos. Player Team SF Shane Battier Memphis Grizzlies PF Pau Gasol Memphis Grizzlies PF/C Brendan Haywood Washington Wizards SG Joe Johnson Boston Celtics SF Andrei Kirilenko Utah Jazz PG Tony Parker San Antonio Spurs C Željko Rebrača Detroit Pistons SG Jason Richardson Golden State Warriors PG Jamaal Tinsley Indiana Pacers Head coach: Chuck Daly Assistant coach: Darryl Dawkins

+Sophomores Pos. Player Team SF Marcus Fizer Chicago Bulls PF Kenyon Martin New Jersey Nets SG Desmond Mason Seattle SuperSonics F/C Chris Mihm Cleveland Cavaliers SF Darius Miles Los Angeles Clippers SG Mike Miller Orlando Magic F Lee Nailon Charlotte Hornets SG Morris Peterson Toronto Raptors SG Quentin Richardson Los Angeles Clippers PF Stromile Swift Memphis Grizzlies SF Hedo Türkoğlu Sacramento Kings Head coach: Billy Cunningham Assistant coach: Bobby Jones

Slam Dunk Contest

+Contestants Pos. Player Team Height Weight G/F Jason Richardson Golden State Warriors 6–6 225 F Gerald Wallace Sacramento Kings 6–7 220 G/F Desmond Mason Seattle SuperSonics 6–5 222 G Steve Francis Houston Rockets 6–3 210

This year's contest adopted a new format. Two pairs of contestants faced each other, with the winner of each matchup advancing to the final round. Prior to each dunk, the players would spin a wheel to determine what kind of dunk they had to perform.

Three-Point Shootout

Peja Stojakovic won the Three Point Shootout, defeating Wesley Person in a shoot-off by the score of 9–5. Prior to that, the final round also included Steve Nash, who finished in third place. +Contestants Pos. Player Team SG Ray Allen Milwaukee Bucks SG Mike Miller Orlando Magic PG Steve Nash Dallas Mavericks SG Wesley Person Cleveland Cavaliers SF Paul Pierce Boston Celtics SF/SG Quentin Richardson Los Angeles Clippers SF Peja Stojaković Sacramento Kings

All-Star Hoop-It-Up +Contestants Houston Cuttino Mobley Houston Rockets Tina Thompson Houston Comets Kenny Smith Houston Rockets (Retired) Jamie Foxx Celebrity International Hedo Türkoğlu Sacramento Kings Ticha Penicheiro Sacramento Monarchs Sarunas Marciulionis Sacramento Kings (Retired) Tom Cavanagh Celebrity Los Angeles Derek Fisher Los Angeles Lakers Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers (Retired) Brian McKnight Celebrity Philadelphia Eric Snow Philadelphia 76ers Dawn Staley Charlotte Sting (Philadelphia Native) Moses Malone Philadelphia 76ers (Retired) Justin Timberlake Celebrity

References

External links 2002 NBA All-Star Game Homepage NBA All-Star 2002 Participants 2002 All-Star Game Recap: NBA History 2002 All-Star Game Box Score: NBA History