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The five best NBA All-Star Game performances ever

By Luke Norris

Kobe Bryant (L) of the L.A. Lakers playing for the West team, scores as East Team's LeBron James of the Miami Heat tries to block during the All-Stars Game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 20, 2011. The game won by the West team 148-143 is the 60th NBA All-Star Game showdown between the Eastern and Western conference superstars. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant (L) of the L.A. Lakers playing for the West team, scores as East Team's LeBron James of the Miami Heat tries to block during the All-Stars Game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 20, 2011. The game won by the West team 148-143 is the 60th NBA All-Star Game showdown between the Eastern and Western conference superstars. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – FEBRUARY 7: Michael Jordan
CHICAGO – FEBRUARY 7: Michael Jordan /

1. Michael Jordan — 1988

Michael Jordan didn’t just own the 1988 All-Star Game, he owned the entire 1988 All-Star Weekend. Well, minus an NBA Championship, he really owned that whole season. Not only did he win the best dunk contest in history over Dominique Wilkins, he won the scoring title that year, won Defensive Player of the Year, led the league in steals, won the league MVP award and also put on one of the greatest shows in NBA All-Star Game history on his way to winning the first of three MVP awards.

It didn’t hurt that the 1988 festivities took place in Chicago but no matter where this game was played, Jordan was going to be the standout. Just a few years into the league, he was right smack dab in the middle of becoming the best player in the NBA and this was the perfect showcase for him. Starting alongside Wilkins, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and Moses Malone, Jordan proved that he was the real star of the Eastern Conference and really the entire NBA by dropping 40 points, shooting an astonishing 17-of-23 (yep, the same exact numbers that Wilt had put up 26 years earlier) from the floor. And that was without attempting one three-pointer the entire night…or being arguably the most dominant center in history. He also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists and had four blocks and four steals. He also proved how great he was in the clutch by scoring 16 points in the final 5:30 of the game to seal the 138-133 victory for the East.

Jordan would later win All-Star MVP in 1996 and 1998 and as noted earlier recorded the first-ever triple-double in history in 1997 with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He currently sits third on the all-time All-Star Game scoring list behind only Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Next: The five best NBA 3-point contests ever

What was the best NBA All-Star Game performance you’ve ever seen? Feel free to join in the conversation in the comments section below and be sure to check back in with FanSided for all of your NBA needs as we get ready for this weekend’s action in New Orleans.

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