Five Years Later: A Look Back at the 2004 All-Star Game

Wow things change huh?

Just 5 years ago, high schoolers could enter the NBA, Shaq and Kobe played on the same team, the Hornets were part of the East and each conference only had two divisions.

And that was just 5 years ago.

So let's take a look back, exactly five years ago today, in a little place known as the Staples Center, Los Angeles, the Eastern and Western Conference teams did battle.

The game was of course All-Star, and we know how that goes. Alley-oops, special dribbling, etc etc.

The game featured the normal off-the-backboard alley-oops, special dribbling from Shaq, style of play, but eventually the West overpowered the undersized East, with Shaq being named MVP.

Western Conference team:

Shaquille O'Neal- Lakers

Kobe Bryant- Lakers (starter)

Ray Allen- Sonics

Yao Ming- Rockets (starter)

Tim Duncan- Spurs (starter)

Steve Francis- Rockets (starter)

Kevin Garnett- Timberwolves (starter)

Brad Miller- Kings

Peja Stojakovic- Kings

Sam Cassell- Timberwolves

Andrei Kirilenko- Jazz

Dirk Nowitzki- Mavs

Western Conference stories:

• The Sacramento Kings, despite the absence of Chris Webber, lead the Western Conference for most of the season, without them knowing this would be the last full season of their amazing style of play and general relevance.
• Minnesota had finally put other stars around Kevin Garnett in Sam Cassell and Latrell Spreewell, making them one of the most dangerous teams in the league, eventually becoming the first seed in the west. Spreewell was one of the more noticeable snubs from All-Star.
• The Lakers had undergone a large transformation, now sporting a starting lineup of four future Hall of Famers. Gary Payton and Karl Malone joined Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal to make this the most storied team of the season.
• The Memphis Grizzlies put together a 50 win season and made the playoffs, both firsts for the franchise.

Eastern Conference Team:

Jamaal Magloire- Hornets

Kenyon Martin- Nets

Jermaine O'Neal- Pacers (starter)

Jason Kidd- Nets

Tracy McGrady- Magic (starter)

Micheal Redd- Bucks

Vince Carter- Raptors (starter)

Paul Pierce- Celtics

Ron Artest- Pacers

Baron Davis- Hornets

Ben Wallace- Pistons (starter)

Allen Iverson- 76ers (starter)

Eastern Stories:

• The Indiana Pacers dominated the entire season, with Jermaine O'Neal as a strong MVP candidate, Veteran leadership in Reggie Miller's final season, Ron Artest the winner of the defensive player of the year award, and a deep bench.
• Of the incredibly talented rookie class of this season, none were chosen as All-Stars. Since then however, seven '03 draftees have been selected for the game, with four of those being chosen again this season.
• The big three of the East was Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin, and Richard Jefferson, making the Nets one of the more exciting teams in the league. Jefferson's absence from the game was another noticeable snub.

Changes in the West:

• Six of the '04 All-Stars now play for different teams in Shaq, Ray Allen, Steve Francis, Kevin Garnett, Peja, and Sam Cassell.
• From this team, seven of the players were named to this years squad as well, with only Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett switching to the Eastern team.

Changes in the East:

• An unbelievable 10 of the 12 Eastern All-Stars now play with a different team, with only Micheal Redd and Paul Pierce being on the same team.
• Only two of the '04 stars were voted onto the All-Star team this year, in Allen Iverson and Paul Pierce.

Yes, things are very different, we have a very different league now.

Enjoy the festivities tonight, whether you are watching a stream online, watching together with friends, in a bar, or lucky enough to be at the game itself.

Let us forget about the economy, the trade talks, which team is playing best etc etc, and enjoy our league and its stars for this special night.