This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2016) |
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Date | February 10, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Arena | First Union Center | ||||||||||||||||||
City | Philadelphia | ||||||||||||||||||
MVP | Kobe Bryant | ||||||||||||||||||
National anthem | Patti LaBelle (USA) Kathleen Edwards (Canada) | ||||||||||||||||||
Halftime show | Elton John | ||||||||||||||||||
Attendance | 19,581 | ||||||||||||||||||
Network | NBC | ||||||||||||||||||
Announcers | Marv Albert Steve Jones Bill Walton | ||||||||||||||||||
NBA All-Star Game | |||||||||||||||||||
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The 2002 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played on February 10, 2002, at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, home of the Philadelphia 76ers. This game was the 51st edition of the North American NBA All-Star Game and was played during the 2001–02 NBA season.
The venue was originally scheduled for the 1998-99 NBA season, but was cancelled due to the 1998-99 NBA lockout and moved to 2002, which was the next All-Star game that had not yet been awarded to another city.
The West defeated the East 135–120, with Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers winning the Most Valuable Player. Bryant scored 31 points, dished 5 assists, and grabbed 5 rebounds, despite being booed by the hometown crowd. Tracy McGrady led the way for the East, scoring 25 points off the bench. He also made one of the most memorable plays in All-Star Game history, the self pass off the backboard dunk.
This was also the last All-Star Game to feature players wearing their respective team jerseys, and thus far, the last to be seen on over-the-air television until 2026 (all games from 2003 to 2025 have aired on the cable channel TNT).