2012 NBA All-Star Game
The 2012 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that showcased the league's top talent, held on February 26, 2012, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend.[1] The Western Conference All-Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All-Stars 152–149 in a high-scoring affair that set multiple records, including the West's 88 first-half points and a combined 157 points between both teams before halftime.[1] Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was named the game's Most Valuable Player after scoring 36 points, leading the West to victory in a thrilling finish marked by late turnovers from LeBron James of the Miami Heat.[1][2] The game, coached by Scott Brooks of the Thunder for the West and Tom Thibodeau of the Chicago Bulls for the East, featured standout performances that highlighted the era's superstar talent.[1] Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers scored 27 points, surpassing Michael Jordan's all-time All-Star scoring record with 271 career points in these contests.[1] Dwyane Wade of the Heat achieved a rare triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while the East set a record with 14 three-pointers made.[1] The total of 301 points fell just two short of the 1987 record, underscoring the offensive fireworks and competitive intensity despite the exhibition format.[1] This event, the 61st in NBA history, drew widespread attention as part of a weekend that also included the Rising Stars Challenge, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Contest, all hosted in Orlando.[3]Background
Host City and Venue
The 2012 NBA All-Star Game was hosted in Orlando, Florida, at the Amway Center, the home arena of the Orlando Magic.[4] The Amway Center, a state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility with a capacity of 18,500 for NBA basketball, opened on October 1, 2010, featuring advanced seating, video boards, and amenities designed to elevate spectator experiences.[5] This marked the arena's debut as a major event host just two years after its inauguration. Orlando's selection for the 2012 event represented the city's second time hosting the NBA All-Star Game, following the 1992 edition held at the original Orlando Arena (later renamed Amway Arena).[6] The NBA typically rotates All-Star hosting duties among its franchises' markets, prioritizing cities with modern venues and competitive teams to maximize fan engagement and broadcast appeal.[4] The league awarded the 2012 game to Orlando on May 4, 2010, citing the new Amway Center and the Magic's recent success, including a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals, as key factors in the decision. The main All-Star Game drew an attendance of 17,125, while the overall weekend attracted over 100,000 visitors, generating an estimated $95 million in economic impact for the local economy through tourism, hospitality, and related spending.[1][7] The venue's contemporary design and central downtown location further enhanced the fan experience, contributing to the event's vibrant atmosphere.[8]Event Dates and Schedule
The 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend took place from February 24 to 26 in Orlando, Florida, with all major events hosted at the Amway Center.[9] On Friday, February 24, the weekend opened with the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at 7:00 p.m. ET, broadcast live on ESPN from the Orange County Convention Center, followed by the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at 9:00 p.m. ET on TNT at the Amway Center.[10][11] Saturday, February 25, centered on All-Star Saturday Night, which began with TNT coverage at 8:00 p.m. ET and featured the Haier Shooting Stars Competition, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, all held at the Amway Center.[11] The events concluded on Sunday, February 26, with the NBA All-Star Game, tipping off at 8:00 p.m. ET following pregame coverage starting at 6:00 p.m. ET on TNT.[11] Complementing the on-court action, the NBA All-Star Jam Session—a fan festival with interactive exhibits, clinics, autograph sessions, and appearances by current players and NBA legends—ran daily from February 23 to 26 at the Orange County Convention Center.[8]Player and Coach Selection
The selection of players for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game followed the league's established format, with starters determined by fan voting and reserves chosen by coaches. Fans voted for two guards and three frontcourt players per conference through online ballots, text messages, and other platforms from December 15, 2011, to January 31, 2012, with the top two vote-getters at each guard position and the top three in the frontcourt earning starting spots.[12][13] Fan participation was robust, reflecting strong global engagement, as evidenced by the high vote totals for top candidates. Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard led all players with 1,600,390 votes to start at center for the Eastern Conference, while Miami Heat forward LeBron James topped the East frontcourt voting with over 1.3 million votes in the final tally. In the Western Conference, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant received 1,555,479 votes to lead the guards, underscoring the popularity of marquee stars in driving voter turnout.[13][14][13] The seven reserves per conference—comprising two guards, two frontcourt players, one center, and two wild cards—were selected by the 30 NBA head coaches, who could not vote for their own players to ensure fairness. This process, announced on February 9, 2012, complemented the fan-chosen starters by recognizing additional performers based on peer evaluation.[15] Coaches for the All-Star teams were determined by the regular-season records of their teams as of February 14, 2012, with the head coach of the conference's top team leading the squad; an assistant from the second-place team typically joined them. Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau earned the Eastern Conference role after his team posted the conference's best record at 24-7, marking his first All-Star coaching appearance. Similarly, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks was selected for the West after guiding his team to a 22-6 mark, also his debut in the position.[16][17] Injury replacements were handled by NBA Commissioner David Stern, who selected substitutes from non-selected players in the same conference to maintain roster balance. Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson, chosen as a reserve, was sidelined by left knee tendinitis and replaced by Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo on February 22, 2012, allowing Rondo his third consecutive All-Star selection. No other major replacements occurred among the starters.[18][19] Overall, the voting process highlighted fan-driven excitement, with millions of ballots cast worldwide, fostering greater accessibility through digital platforms and contributing to the event's status as a premier showcase of NBA talent.[13][20]All-Star Weekend
Celebrity Game
The 2012 Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was an informal exhibition matchup held on Friday, February 24, as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in Orlando, Florida.[10] The event featured celebrities, entertainers, former professional athletes, and public figures divided into East and West teams, emphasizing entertainment over competition to raise awareness and funds for charitable causes, including the NBA Cares program.[21] The game followed a format of two 20-minute halves with a running clock and relaxed rules, such as limited enforcement of the shot clock and fewer stoppages, allowing for more continuous play and humorous interactions. Coached by Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard for the East and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant for the West, the rosters included a mix of athletes and entertainers.[21] Notable East participants were rapper Common, former NFL stars Terrell Owens and Emmitt Smith, musician Sting, comedian Kevin Hart, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and singer Javier Colon.[10] The West featured rapper J. Cole, former NBA All-Star Mitch Richmond, NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, singer Brian McKnight, actor Vinny Guadagnino, and reality TV stars Jonathan and Drew Scott from Property Brothers.[10] The East team dominated the contest, securing an 86–54 victory over the West in a lopsided affair marked by high-energy plays and comedic antics. Highlights included powerful dunks by Terrell Owens and energetic defensive efforts from Emmitt Smith, while the game's lighthearted tone shone through in moments like Kevin Hart's trash-talking and a brief on-court scuffle that led to his ejection late in the game.[22] Despite the ejection, Hart earned Sprint Most Valuable Player honors for his performance of 8 points and 6 assists, bringing infectious energy that captivated the audience at the Orange County Convention Center.[23] Post-game awards celebrated standout contributions, underscoring the event's focus on fun and philanthropy.[24]BBVA Rising Stars Challenge
The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge was held on Friday, February 24, 2012, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities.[25] This exhibition game featured a full-court matchup between Team Shaq and Team Chuck, with rosters composed of top rookies and sophomores drafted from a pool of 18 players by TNT analysts Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley acting as general managers. The head coaches were Maurice Cheeks and Mike Fratello for Team Chuck, and Ron Adams and Steve Kerr for Team Shaq.[25] Team Chuck's roster included Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers), John Wall (Washington Wizards), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz), Derrick Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves), and MarShon Brooks (New Jersey Nets).[25] Team Shaq consisted of Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Jeremy Lin (New York Knicks), Landry Fields (New York Knicks), Norris Cole (Miami Heat), and Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns).[25] The game showcased emerging talents through a fast-paced, high-scoring format emphasizing dunks, perimeter shooting, and playmaking.[26] In a high-octane contest totaling 279 points, Team Chuck defeated Team Shaq 146–133 in front of 17,125 attendees.[25] Kyrie Irving earned MVP honors for Team Chuck, exploding for 34 points on 12-of-13 field goals (including 8-of-8 from three-point range) and adding 9 assists in 27 minutes.[25] Other standout performances included Paul George's 23 points for Team Chuck and Tristan Thompson's 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting for Team Shaq, highlighting the athleticism and potential of the league's young stars through emphatic dunks and transition plays.[25]| Team | Key Players and Stats |
|---|---|
| Team Chuck | Kyrie Irving: 34 PTS, 9 AST; Paul George: 23 PTS; DeMarcus Cousins: 18 PTS, 11 REB; Evan Turner: 16 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST; John Wall: 17 PTS, 8 AST |
| Team Shaq | Tristan Thompson: 20 PTS; Greg Monroe: 19 PTS, 10 REB; Norris Cole: 18 PTS; Landry Fields: 16 PTS; Brandon Knight: 14 PTS, 7 AST |
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
The Taco Bell Skills Challenge took place on February 25, 2012, during All-Star Saturday Night at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, as part of the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend.[27] The competition featured an expanded field of six participants, all point guards selected for their elite ball-handling abilities: Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs, Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics (replacing the injured Stephen Curry), John Wall of the Washington Wizards, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets.[28][29] Curry, the defending champion from 2011, had been announced as a participant but withdrew due to a strained tendon in his right foot sustained earlier that week.[30] The event followed a head-to-head elimination format with two rounds of a timed obstacle course designed to test dribbling, passing, and shooting precision. Competitors started with an outlet pass off the backboard, dribbled through a series of cones, made a chest pass to a target, and a layup. Returning to the other end, they dribbled through cones again, made a mid-range shot from the elbow, and a three-pointer. Time started at the outlet pass and stopped after the three-pointer swished; misses required immediate retries, with the clock continuing to run. The fastest times among those who completed the course advanced. In the opening round, Williams recorded the quickest time of 28.3 seconds, followed by Parker at 29.2 seconds; Rondo advanced after a tiebreaker over Wall, outperforming Irving and Westbrook.[31] In the final round, Parker secured the victory with a time of 32.8 seconds, edging out Rondo for second place and Williams for third.[31][32] This triumph represented a significant redemption for Parker, who had previously finished last in his two earlier Skills Challenge appearances in 2003 and 2008 despite showing promise in his international play.[33] The contest underscored the agility and quick decision-making essential to point guards, drawing attention to their fundamental skills amid the weekend's more spectacular events.[34]Foot Locker Three-Point Contest
The Foot Locker Three-Point Contest took place on February 25, 2012, during NBA All-Star Saturday Night at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, as the second event following the Skills Challenge. Six players competed in a shooting competition where each participant attempted 25 three-point shots from five racks positioned at the corners, wings, and top of the key, with 60 seconds per round; four balls per rack were worth one point each, while the fifth "money ball" was worth two points, for a maximum possible score of 30 points per round. The top three scorers from the first round advanced to a final round using the same format, with the highest scorer declared the winner; ties were resolved via additional rounds. The participants were Ryan Anderson of the Orlando Magic, Mario Chalmers of the [Miami Heat](/page/Miami Heat), Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, James Jones of the [Miami Heat](/page/Miami Heat) (the defending champion), Anthony Morrow of the New Jersey Nets, and Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves.[35] In the first round, Jones led with 22 points, highlighted by a streak of seven consecutive makes, followed by Durant with 20 points; Love and Chalmers tied at 18 points, but Love advanced after winning their one-on-one tiebreaker, while Anderson scored 17 and Morrow scored 14.[36] The advancing finalists were Jones, Durant, and Love.| Participant | First Round Score |
|---|---|
| James Jones | 22 |
| Kevin Durant | 20 |
| Kevin Love | 18 |
| Mario Chalmers | 18 (lost tiebreaker) |
| Ryan Anderson | 17 |
| Anthony Morrow | 14 |
| Participant | Final Round Score |
|---|---|
| Kevin Love | 14 (won tiebreaker 17-14) |
| Kevin Durant | 14 |
| James Jones | 12 |
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
The Sprite Slam Dunk Contest took place on February 25, 2012, as part of All-Star Saturday Night at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, showcasing high-flying athleticism and creative slams from NBA players.[39] In a departure from traditional formats, the 2012 contest featured a single round where each of the four participants performed three dunks, with the winner determined solely by fan voting via NBA.com, Twitter, or text message, marking the first time fan votes exclusively decided the champion.[40] The participants were Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams, Houston Rockets forward Chase Budinger, and Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans, who entered as a late replacement for New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert after his withdrawal due to injury.[41][39] Evans emerged as the surprise winner with 30% of the fan vote, edging out Budinger (29%), George (24%), and Williams (17%), becoming the first Jazz player to claim the title.[42][41] His standout dunks included a point-of-view reverse slam with a camera strapped to his head, a two-ball flush after leaping over seated teammate Gordon Hayward who tossed the balls upward, and a tribute to Jazz legend Karl Malone where comedian Kevin Hart delivered a "Mailman" jersey before Evans powered home a one-handed jam over a prop mailman.[43][44] George impressed with a glow-in-the-dark "Tron"-themed dunk under darkened lights and a powerful slam over Pacers center Roy Hibbert and teammate Dahntay Jones, while Williams executed a 360-degree windmill over a motorcycle and Budinger soared between the legs of a teammate for a reverse finish, though the overall event drew criticism for lacking innovation compared to past contests.[45][46][47]Haier Shooting Stars Competition
The Haier Shooting Stars Competition was a timed relay shooting event held during NBA All-Star Saturday Night on February 25, 2012, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, featuring teams composed of one current NBA player, one current WNBA player, and one NBA legend or TNT analyst.[48] This format promoted cross-league participation by uniting active professionals from the NBA and WNBA with retired stars, emphasizing teamwork and precision under pressure.[48] Each team completed a sequence of six shots from progressively challenging locations on the court, starting with easier mid-range attempts and culminating in a half-court shot, all within a two-minute limit; the fastest team to make all shots in order won, with ties broken by a shoot-off.[48] The four city-based teams were: Team Atlanta with Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks, NBA), Lindsey Harding (Atlanta Dream, WNBA), and Steve Smith (NBA legend/TNT analyst); Team New York with Landry Fields (New York Knicks, NBA), Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty, WNBA), and Allan Houston (NBA legend); Team Texas with Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets, NBA), Sophia Young (San Antonio Silver Stars, WNBA), and Kenny Smith (TNT analyst/NBA legend); and Team Orlando with Jameer Nelson (Orlando Magic, NBA), Marie Ferdinand-Harris (WNBA), and Dennis Scott (NBA legend).[48] In the first round, Team Atlanta, the defending champions from 2011, was eliminated early, while Teams New York, Texas, and Orlando advanced to the finals.[49] Team New York emerged victorious in the final round with a time of 37.3 seconds, thanks to Allan Houston's clutch performance, including two successful half-court shots on the sixth attempt after an initial miss.[49][50] Team Texas finished second at 47.6 seconds, highlighted by Kenny Smith's half-court make, while Team Orlando posted a time of 1:04 in the opening round before elimination due to struggles with the half-court shot.[49] The event concluded All-Star Saturday Night, showcasing the blend of skill and strategy in a fun, collaborative format.[48]All-Star Game
Rosters
The rosters for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game featured 12 players from each conference: five starters selected via fan voting and seven reserves chosen by NBA head coaches within their conferences. Voting results and announcements were released by the NBA on February 2 for starters and February 9 for reserves. All selected starters participated in the game, with no changes to the starting lineups.Eastern Conference
Starters
| Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Derrick Rose | G | Chicago Bulls |
| Dwyane Wade | G | Miami Heat |
| LeBron James | F | Miami Heat |
| Carmelo Anthony | F | New York Knicks |
| Dwight Howard | C | Orlando Magic |
Reserves
| Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Rajon Rondo | G | Boston Celtics |
| Joe Johnson* | G | Atlanta Hawks |
| Paul Pierce | F | Boston Celtics |
| Roy Hibbert | C | Indiana Pacers |
| Chris Bosh | F | Miami Heat |
| Luol Deng | F | Chicago Bulls |
| Andre Iguodala | G/F | Philadelphia 76ers |
Western Conference
Starters
| Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Paul | G | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Kobe Bryant | G | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Kevin Durant | F | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Blake Griffin | F | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Andrew Bynum | C | Los Angeles Lakers |
Reserves
| Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Westbrook | G | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Tony Parker | G | San Antonio Spurs |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | F | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Kevin Love | F | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Marc Gasol | C | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Dirk Nowitzki | F | Dallas Mavericks |
| Steve Nash | G | Phoenix Suns |