A Look Back at 1988 All-Star Sunday: A Game For The Ages

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

This article can also be read at North Station Sports

This morning I woke up at 7 a.m. and, in my normal routine, I switched on NBA TV. The 1988 All-Star game was playing. While composing my "Tendon-Gate"article, and hearing Dick Stockton doing the play by play in the background, I had to stop and watch.

"Tendon-Gate" was on hold for now...

As I watched, I realized this may have been the game that encompassed everything the 1980's were. As the decade was winding down and the NBA greats of that era were moving passed their prime, this exhibition was extremely hard fought with a blend of fundamentals and gritty determination—qualities that are far lacking in today's All-Star games.

These guys wanted to defeat their peers, they saw this game as less of an exhibition for fun and more of an artistic exhibit of talent in a 5 on 5 competition of who is the best conference—not player.

Until today, I never realized what a bridge year 1988 was. The natural evolution of the game was perfectly displayed in Chicago Stadium on that Sunday afternoon.

As some of you know, I collect NBA basketball games. I enjoy watching old footage of 1970's and 1980's basketball. Though I always marvel at the fundamentals displayed in those vintage contests, I can't help but notice how, compared to today's game, the players seem to be moving in slow motion. The harmonious blend of great play-making never lacked in those old games, but the athleticism displayed in today's league was certainly only still a trailer for what the league would grow into.

One aspect that shot out at me during the footage of this game was that the athleticism of the players started to emerge. Early in the second quarter, I was intently typing away at my lap top when I heard Stockton bellow out "Michael Jordan breaks free," I looked up at my plasma and saw Jordan's full sprint down the court on a fast break for another tongue wagging dunk.

The combination of the Chicago Stadium crowd, Dick Stockton's voice and the sight of Jordan's highlight reel dunk, brought back memories of watching games such as these in my grandmother's living room, on her old TV that resembled more of a piece of furniture then it did a piece of technology. I can still smell the sauce cooking in the kitchen and I can remember thinking "please let the sauce not be finished until half time." I didn't want to miss a second the contest, as every play was a highlight reel of offensive greatness and defensive grit.

The picks were set like an illustration out of a text book, the lob passes were set up with perfection, the fast break was ran like a play on a chalk board and speaking of plays, these teams ran none yet they were in perfect sync. This was an era where coaches were more like managers and less like head's of state. The intelligence of the player dominated the game and "x's & o's" were less necessary.

Did I mention hustle in this exhibition contest? I just looked up as Larry-Legend was diving into the stands for a lose ball as if it was the finals. Is this an exhibition?

Did I mention dunks? With the human Highlight Reel and Air-Jordan sharing the basketball for the East, there was no lacking of amazing dunks.

In 1988, The Lakers were champs and the Celtics were one year removed from that title. The two titans from each coast were still the powerhouses in the league. Eager on lookers such as Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan were still licking their chops, waiting for their chance to compete for the greatest prize in basketball. Though Larry and the Celtics had competed in their last title bout, Ainge, Bird, and McHale were still the prized possessions in the East. Speaking of the Celtics, were was the Chief? He was missing from this All-Star competition. Robert Parish was always in the shadows of Larry and Kevin—a symbol of the great talent those old Celtics teams possessed.

Magic still had three Finals appearances left in him, yet 1988 would be his last championship and Kareem's last finals appearance. A perfect night cap to Kareem's twenty year odyssey.

Kareem was moving around Chicago stadium like more of a 20 year old man in his prime and less of a 40 year old veteran close to waiving goodbye.

It seemed every player back then had their signature move. Larry Bird had the fade away jumper, Magic had the no look pass, Kevin McHale had the up and under, Hakeem had the baseline jumper, Worthy had the baby hook, Jordan had the tongue wagging dunk, Isiah had the killer cross over but there was only one player who possessed the most unstoppable weapon in sports.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?