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1956

Phil Ford is born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

1969

For the 32nd and final time in his career, Wilt Chamberlain scores 60 or more points in an NBA game, finishing with 66 (along with 27 rebounds) in a 134-116 Lakers victory over the Suns. Chamberlain’s 32 games with 60+ points is by far the NBA record, with Kobe Bryant in second place with six games.

1974

John Wallace is born in Rochester, New York. A boxer in his youth, he didn’t take up organized basketball until he was a freshman at Greece Athena High School.

1979

Moses Malone tallies the most rebounds of any player in a single NBA post-merger game, with 37 (along with 33 points) in a 106-99 Rockets win over the New Orleans Jazz. The mark also stands as the Rockets single game franchise record.

1980

Rick Barry becomes the first player in NBA history to make eight three-point field goals in a game, shooting 8-of-12 from long distance in a Rockets win over the Jazz.

1982

Jameer Nelson is born in Chester, Pennsylvania. He led Chester High School to the Pennsylvania state title in 2000.

1985

In the most star-studded edition of the event’s history, Dominique Wilkins wins the Slam Dunk Contest over Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, Darrell Griffith, and Clyde Drexler.

1986

In the first NBA All-Star Game to take place in Texas, Isiah Thomas finishes with 30 points and 10 assists and is named MVP for a second time as the Eastern Conference defeats the West 139-132 in Dallas. Clyde Drexler, James Worthy, and Dominique Wilkins make their All-Star debuts, while rookie Patrick Ewing is also named to the team for the first time but does not participate due to an injury.

1988

Charles Barkley scores a career high 47 points but his 76ers lose 112-110 to the Hawks, thanks to 49 points and 12 rebounds from Dominique Wilkins. Barkley had a chance to tie the game at the end of the regulation but missed a potential buzzer beater.

1992

Despite retiring before the season began, Magic Johnson makes a brief comeback to appear in the NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, earning MVP honors for scoring 25 points in a 153-113 West win. Johnson was voted in by fans as a starting guard for the West.

1997

Glen Rice drops 26 points off the bench and is named MVP for the Eastern Conference in a 132-120 victory over the West at the NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland. Kevin Garnett (as an injury replacement) makes his All-Star debut and becomes the first player in Timberwolves history to participate. This is the final All-Star roster appearance for Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, and Hakeem Olajuwon. A tribute to the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players takes place during halftime, with 47 of the honorees appearing.

2000

Bobby Phills has his jersey #13 retired by the Hornets posthumously. Phills was in the middle of his third season with Charlotte in January of 2000, when he passed away at age 30 in a car accident. He is the first and still only Charlotte Hornets played with a retired jersey.

2003

In the first NBA All-Star Game broadcast exclusively on cable (TNT) and the first and only to reach double overtime, Kevin Garnett is named MVP in a 155-145 Western Conference win in Atlanta. Just prior to tip-off, Vince Carter gives up his starting spot for the Eastern Conference to Michael Jordan, who was making his 14th and final appearance. Also notable was rookie Yao Ming making his All-Star debut, voted in by fans as the West’s starting center.

2004

Rasheed Wallace is traded from the Trail Blazers to the Hawks, along with Wesley Person, in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Dan Dickau, and Theo Ratliff. Wallace would play just one game with Atlanta before getting traded to the Pistons 10 days later.

2005

The WNBA announces that Chicago is receiving an expansion franchise, set to begin play in 2006. The team, later named the Sky, becomes just the second independently owned franchise in the league, with real estate mogul Michael Alter as the lead investor.

2023

Kevin Durant is traded from the Nets to the Suns as part of a massive, four-team transaction that also includes Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Serge Ibaka, George Hill, T.J. Warren, and 10 draft picks.

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