The 14th Annual NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on January 14, 1964, at the Boston Garden in Boston, the home of the Boston Celtics. This was the fourth and most recent NBA All-Star Game to be held in Boston, after previous editions were held there in 1951, 1952, and 1957. This was also the final NBA All-Star Game held at the Boston Garden, which eventually closed in 1995.

The East won the game 111–107. Oscar Robertson was named the Most Valuable Player with 26 points and 8 assists, both game highs, as well as 14 rebounds.

The NBA Old-Timers Game was also held that day, making a return after a seven-year hiatus before going on another break, which lasted 20 years.

Historical significance The game was notable for the threat of a strike by the players, who refused to play just before the game unless the owners agreed to recognize the players' union, occurring amidst a historic blizzard. The owners agreed primarily because it was the first All-Star Game to be televised and if it were not played due to strike it would have been embarrassing at a time when the NBA was still attempting to gain national exposure. The NBA did not have a national TV contract at the time, but ABC agreed to televise the All-Star game and consider a contract for continuing coverage. They made it clear that if the All-Star Game was not played, ABC would drop its interest completely. This led directly to many rights and freedoms not previously extended to professional basketball players.

Coaches

The coaches were the Celtics' Red Auerbach for the East and the Los Angeles Lakers' Fred Schaus for the West, as their respective teams had the best records in their respective divisions entering the game. This was the third straight All-Star Game with Auerbach and Schaus as coaches.

Eastern Division Player, Team MINFGMFGAFTMFTAREBASTPFPTS Oscar Robertson, CIN 42 10 23 6 10 14 8 4 26 Bill Russell, BOS 42 6 13 1 2 21 2 4 13 Jerry Lucas, CIN 36 3 6 5 6 8 0 5 11 Sam Jones, BOS 27 8 20 0 0 4 3 2 16 Wayne Embry, CIN 21 6 14 1 1 7 1 1 13 Tom Heinsohn, BOS 21 5 12 0 0 3 0 5 10 Hal Greer, PHI 20 5 10 3 4 3 4 1 13 Len Chappell, NYK 12 1 5 2 2 1 2 2 4 Chet Walker, PHI 12 2 5 0 0 0 0 1 4 Tom Gola, NYK 7 0 0 1 2 0 1 2 1 Totals 240 46 108 19 27 61 21 27 111

Western Division Player, Team MINFGMFGAFTMFTAREBASTPFPTS Jerry West, LAL 42 8 20 1 1 4 5 3 17 Wilt Chamberlain, SFW 37 4 14 11 14 20 1 2 19 Bob Pettit, STL 36 6 15 7 9 17 2 3 19 Elgin Baylor, LAL 29 5 15 5 11 8 5 1 15 Walt Bellamy, BAL 23 4 11 3 5 7 0 3 11 Guy Rodgers, SFW 22 3 6 0 0 2 2 4 6 Don Ohl, DET 18 3 9 2 2 2 0 2 8 Lenny Wilkens, STL 14 1 5 1 1 0 0 3 3 Terry Dischinger, BAL 13 2 4 3 3 2 1 1 7 Bailey Howell, DET 6 1 3 0 0 2 0 0 2 Totals 240 37 102 33 46 64 16 22 107

Score by periods

Score by periods: 1234Final East 25 34 27 25 111 West 22 27 28 30 107

Halftime— East, 59–49 Third Quarter— East, 86–77 Officials: Sid Borgia and Mendy Rudolph Attendance: 13,464.

NBA Old-Timers Games The second NBA Old-Timers Game, which consist of teams of retired NBA players, was held. After which, it entered a hiatus until it was restored in 1984. The Eastern Old Timers beat the Western Old Timers, 50–46.

References