2015 NBA All-Star Game


The 2015 NBA All-Star Game was the 64th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, an exhibition basketball game played on February 15, 2015 in New York City and hosted by both of the city's teams, the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. The NBA awarded the game to New York City in 2013, and the logo for the 2015 All-Star Game was unveiled on July 10, 2014.
The All-Star Game itself was played at the Knicks' home arena, Madison Square Garden. The current Garden last hosted the game in 1998, and the Knicks' previous home, the third Madison Square Garden, hosted three earlier All-Star Games. The Saturday activities conducted as part of NBA All-Star Weekend were held at the Nets' home arena, the Barclays Center. The Nets previously hosted the 1982 All-Star Game at Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The game was televised nationally by TNT and TBS in the United States, The game was televised nationally by TSN in Canada.

All-Star Game

Coaches

, coach of the Atlanta Hawks, and Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors, were selected as the East and West head coach, respectively.

Roster

The rosters for the All-Star Game were chosen in two ways. The starters were chosen via a fan ballot. Two guards and three frontcourt players who received the highest vote were named the All-Star starters. NBA head coaches voted for the reserves for their respective conferences, none of which could be players on their own team. Each coach selected two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild cards, with each selected player ranked in order of preference within each category. If a multi-position player was to be selected, coaches were encouraged to vote for the player at the position that was "most advantageous for the All-Star team", regardless of where the player was listed on the All-Star ballot or the position he was listed in box scores. If a player is unable to participate due to injury, the commissioner will select a replacement.
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors topped the ballots with 1,513,324 votes, which earned him a starting position as a guard in the Western Conference team. Kobe Bryant earned a record 17th consecutive All-Star selection, and Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol, and Blake Griffin completed the Western Conference starting positions. The first-time All-Stars in the West were the Warriors’ Klay Thompson and the Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins, who was selected as a replacement for the injured Bryant.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were represented by two players: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, both of whom were reserves. Also sending a pair of players to the All-Star Game as reserves were the Portland Trail Blazers, represented by LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. The remaining Western Conference reserves were Thompson, Cousins, Tim Duncan, James Harden, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. Golden State had two All-Star representatives for the first time since 1993, when Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin were both All-Stars. It was also the first time the Warriors had a pair of starters since 1967, when Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond were both starters.
The Eastern Conference's leading vote-getter was Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, who finished with 1,470,483 votes. John Wall, Kyle Lowry, Pau Gasol, and Carmelo Anthony completed the Eastern Conference starting positions. The Eastern Conference team featured four first-time selections: Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague, and Kyle Korver. The Atlanta Hawks were represented by four players: Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver, all of whom were reserves. Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and Kyrie Irving completed the remaining Eastern Conference reserves.
The Gasol brothers Marc and Pau were selected to start in the West and the East respectively, marking the first time in NBA history two brothers were picked to start in an All-Star Game. The Gasols were also the first brothers to appear in the same All-Star Game since Tom and Dick Van Arsdale played in the 1970 and 1971 games.
scored 41 points and was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. He scored 27 points in 11 minutes in the first half, setting an All-Star record for points in a half. He finished one point shy of the All-Star game record set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962.

All-Star Weekend

Celebrity Game

Rising Stars Challenge

Shooting Stars Competition

Team NameMembersTeamFirst roundFinal round
Team BoshChris BoshMiami Heat30.857.6
Team BoshSwin CashNew York Liberty30.857.6
Team BoshDominique WilkinsAtlanta Hawks legend30.857.6
Team WestbrookRussell WestbrookOklahoma City Thunder35.2DNF
Team WestbrookTamika CatchingsIndiana Fever35.2DNF
Team WestbrookPenny HardawayOrlando Magic legend35.2DNF
Team CurryStephen CurryGolden State Warriors47.0–
Team CurrySue BirdSeattle Storm47.0–
Team CurryDell CurryCharlotte Hornets legend
47.0–
Team MillsapAnthony DavisNew Orleans Pelicans51.4–
Team MillsapPaul MillsapAtlanta Hawks51.4–
Team MillsapElena Delle DonneChicago Sky51.4–
Team MillsapScottie PippenChicago Bulls legend51.4–

Skills Challenge

Pos.PlayerTeamHeightWeight
G/FJimmy ButlerChicago Bulls6–7220
GJeff TeagueAtlanta Hawks6–2181
GKyle LowryToronto Raptors6–0205
GJohn WallWashington Wizards6–4195
GMichael Carter-Williams Philadelphia 76ers6–6190
GBrandon KnightMilwaukee Bucks6–3189
GDennis SchröderAtlanta Hawks6–1168
GPatrick BeverleyHouston Rockets6–1185
GElfrid Payton Orlando Magic6–4185
GTrey BurkeUtah Jazz6–1185
GIsaiah ThomasPhoenix Suns5–9185

Three-Point Contest

Pos.PlayerTeamHeightWeightFirst roundFinal round
GStephen CurryGolden State Warriors6–31902327
GKyrie IrvingCleveland Cavaliers6–31932317
GKlay ThompsonGolden State Warriors6–72152414
GWesley MatthewsPortland Trail Blazers6–522022–
G/FKyle KorverAtlanta Hawks6–721218–
GMarco BelinelliSan Antonio Spurs6–519518–
GJ. J. RedickLos Angeles Clippers6–419017–
GJames HardenHouston Rockets6–522515–

Slam Dunk Contest

Rookie Zach LaVine won the Slam Dunk Contest to become the youngest champion since an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant in 1997. He became a crowd favorite after his first dunk, which he performed while wearing Michael Jordan's No. 23 jersey from the movie Space Jam, which inspired him as a youngster to become a basketball player. With a perfect 50 on each of his first two dunks, Lavine was the first player since Dwight Howard in 2009 with a perfect score on multiple dunks. Yahoo! Sports hailed him as "the most electrifying performer of All-Star Saturday Night... and, if we're being honest, in quite a number of years."
Pos.PlayerTeamHeightWeightFirst roundFinal round
GZach LaVineMinnesota Timberwolves6–5183100 94
GVictor OladipoOrlando Magic6–421089 72
F/CMason PlumleeBrooklyn Nets6–1123576 –
G/FGiannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks6–1121765 –