On Saturday night the NBA’s most skilled players will compete against each other for various trophies and rewards. The events consist of the Hair Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker 3-Point Shootout and the night culminates with the Sprite Dunk Contest. The Staples Center crowd will surely be pleased with the leaping abilities of Blake Griffin and JaVale McGee, as well as the excitement from the other three events.
Although the Friday and Saturday night events will be quite amusing, the entire sports world is looking forward to the epic Sunday showdown. The Eastern Conference stars will be looking to beat their Western opponents for the second consecutive year. The world’s best players will be on the same court battling each other in a game for the ages.
There are an unprecedented number of great players on both teams, and these superstars are all capable of extraordinary feats. Every NBA crowd has a penchant for great games, and they will surely be treated with one on Sunday. With the lineups finalized, let’s take a look at the players’ statistics and accomplishments for the first half of the NBA season.
Next: Eastern Conference Forwards/Centers
LeBron James will make his seventh career NBA All-Star appearance, but his first as a member of the Miami Heat. James joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh during the off-season to chase his first NBA title. However, many people expected LeBron’s numbers to plummet since he had to share the ball with two other stars. Although the early portion of the season was a disappointment for the Heat, the team is now in the hunt for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. As for LeBron James he is once again in the MVP conversation and is averaging 26.1 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game and 7.0 assists per game.
Amar’e Stoudemire- New York Knicks (Starter)
Amar’e Stoudemire has completely changed the New York Knicks, and the team is on the verge of returning to the playoffs. In previous seasons, the Knicks were often ridiculed and disrespected by fans and analysts. However, thanks to his stellar play and MVP contributions, Stoudemire is considered the “savior” for New York Knicks basketball. Stoudemire will start for the 2011 Eastern Conference All-Stars, becoming the first Knicks starter since Patrick Ewing in 1992. In the 2010-2011 season, Amar’e has averaged 26.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 2.7 apg.
Dwight Howard- Orlando Magic (Starter)
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is regarded as the best center in the NBA, and for good reason. Howard has won Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons and he has been selected to five NBA All-Star games. With Howard dominating the paint, the Orlando Magic are once again in the race for the Eastern Conference championship. Although Howard seems to be an innocuous person, he is full of power and strength. Howard’s tenacity on the boards and his defensive prowess thwarts opponents from getting easy shots. This season “Superman” is averaging 22.8 ppg, 13.8 rpg and 2.1 bpg.
Chris Bosh- Miami Heat
Unlike his Miami Heat teammates, Chris Bosh was not voted in as an Eastern Conference starter. Instead, the Dallas native was selected by the NBA coaches and will be coming off the bench for another season. Out of the “Heatles,” Bosh’s numbers have seen the biggest decline and he is sometimes the forgotten star on the team. Chris Bosh is currently putting up 18.5 ppg and grabbing 8.1 rpg.
Kevin Garnett- Boston Celtics
Kevin Garnett is one of four Boston Celtics to be selected as an All-Star and this year’s game will be the 14th of his career. Garnett was plagued with injuries last season, but this season he is completely healthy and has led the Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Paul Pierce- Boston Celtics
Paul Pierce will make his ninth All-Star appearance and he will do it in his hometown of Los Angeles. Although the Staples Center crowd is not fond of Paul Pierce, he is well deserving of this All-Star selection. In his 13th season with the Boston Celtics, Pierce is averaging 18.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 3.2 apg.
Al Horford- Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford will make his second consecutive All-Star appearance, and he will be joined by fellow teammate Joe Johnson. Horford has been an essential player for the Hawks’ success and is probably the most consistent player on the team.
Next: Eastern Conference Guards
Dwyane Wade- Miami Heat (Starter)
Dwyane Wade has been selected as an All-Star for the seventh time, and he will be looking to defend his All-Star Game MVP. Wade is a prolific scorer and is considered by many as the true leader of the Miami Heat. This season, “Flash” is dropping 25.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 4.3 apg.
Chicago native Derrick Rose will play in his second All-Star game, but it will be his first career start. Rose has completely transformed his game, and the countless hours of practice this off-season are paying off tremendously. Rose is leading the MVP race, and his numbers have improved dramatically compared to last season. Rose, who is in his third NBA season, is averaging 24.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 6.7 apg.
Ray Allen- Boston Celtics
Ray Allen is a great three-point shooter and he has had a historic season thus far. Allen recently surpassed Reggie Miller for the most three-point field made in an NBA career, and is having best shooting season of his NBA tenure.
Joe Johnson- Atlanta Hawks
Joe Johnson is the second Atlanta Hawk selected to play in the All-Star game, and it will be the fifth of his career. Johnson has led the Hawks to another top-four seed in the Eastern Conference, and he has taken on the role as a team leader; Johnson is currently averaging 19.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 5.4 apg.
Rajon Rondo- Boston Celtics
Rajon Rondo is having perhaps the best season of his career, and is emerging as on the best point guards in the NBA. Rondo has a knack for finding his teammates in ideal positions on the court and his assist average is at a level the NBA has not seen for a long time.
Next: Western Conference Forwards/Centers
Kevin Durant- Oklahoma City Thunder (Starter)
Kevin Durant is set to make his second All-Star appearance and his first career start. Although Durant is only 22 years old, he is one of the best scorers in the NBA (28.9 ppg). Durant is the unquestionable leader of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the young team is taking the NBA by storm.
Amidst all the trade rumors and off-the-court distractions, Carmelo Anthony is still having an All-Star season. ‘Melo may not be a member of the Denver Nuggets by the end of the month, but the All-Star weekend will allow him to escape from the trade talks for a few days.
Pau Gasol- Los Angeles Lakers
Pau Gasol will be playing in his fourth All-Star game and this year he will have the privilege to showcase his talents in front of the Staples Center crowd. Gasol will play along side his teammate Kobe Bryant, and both Lakers will surely appreciate their time off from basketball.
Tim Duncan- San Antonio Spurs
Tim Duncan has been selected to his 13th All-Star game, but he has not put up stellar numbers. Many people believed Duncan’s 2010-2011 statistics were not worthy of an All-Star selection, and that someone else should have been voted in. Nevertheless, “Mr. Fundamental” will be with the world’s greatest players.
Blake Griffin- Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin is the lone rookie on the Western Conference All-Star team, and he has dazzled fans with his athletic plays and leaping abilities. Despite the Los Angeles Clippers’ poor record, the NBA coaches believed Griffin was one of the best players in the first half of the season.
Kevin Love- Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Love was neither voted in by the fans nor selected by the coaches. Instead, David Stern chose Love as the replacement player for the inured Yao Ming. Kevin Love has been absolutely amazing this season, and he is putting up historic numbers. Love once recorded 31 points and 31 rebounds in a single game, and this season he is averaging 18.1 ppg, 14.0 rpg and 2.2 apg.
Dirk Nowitzki- Dallas Mavericks
Dirk Nowitzki will play in his 10th NBA All-Star game as a result of his MVP-like season. Nowitzki has brought the Mavericks to the second seed in the Western Conference and they are expected to challenge the Lakers for a Finals bid. In the first half of the 2010-2011 season, Nowitzki put up 22.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 2.5 apg.
Next: Western Conference Guards
Kobe Bryant will make his 13th All-Star appearance and he will be playing before his faithful Los Angeles fans. Bryant is having another productive season, and he is trying to the lead the Lakes to their third consecutive title. Although Kobe has played in many mid-February classics, it is always special for him to play on his home-court.
Chris Paul- New Orleans Hornets (Starter)
Chris Paul will be joining Kobe Bryant in the backcourt for his fourth All-Star game. Paul has transformed the Hornets into a serious Western Conference threat, and he is one of the best point guards in the NBA. This season, “CP3” is averaging 16.2 points per game and 9.6 assists per game.
Manu Ginobili- San Antonio Spurs
Manu Ginobili has led the San Antonio Spurs to the best record in the NBA, and his amazing play is worthy of an All-Star selection. The Spurs are an astonishing 46-9, while Ginobili is dropping 17.9 ppg, grabbing 3.8 rpg and dishing out 4.9 apg.
Russell Westbrook- Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook will be joining fellow Thunder teammate Kevin Durant in the 2011 All-Star game. Westbrook will make the first All-Star appearance of his career. Westbrook is developing into one of the best young point guards in the NBA and he is averaging 22.2 ppg and 7.1 apg.
Deron Williams- Utah Jazz
Deron Williams will be playing in his second All-Star game, but this time he will no longer be with Carlos Boozer. Williams has not seen much team success without Boozer, but his statistics are still impressive and are deserving of a selection.