NBA All-Star Game: The Best All-Star Player in Each Team's History
Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Dwyane Wade or Alonzo Mourning?
Patrick Ewing, Willis Reed or Walt Frazier?
Tim Duncan or David Robinson?
On the occasion of the 61st NBA All-Star Game, let's sift through some NBA history to dig up the best All-Star player from every franchise.
Jabbar is on the list—not with the Lakers, though. And who is that Hawk, the only player with four All-Star Game MVPs to his credit? Why are Shaquille O'Neal and his three All-Star MVPs absent from the show?
And who on earth is the Golden State Warriors' best All-Star basketballer?
Those and a couple of other surprises as we take a look at all 30 teams. Who's your team's top All-Star?
Atlanta HAWKS: Bob Pettit
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Bob Pettit is the only NBA player to win the All-Star Game MVP four times.
He played in 11 straight All-Star Games (1955-1965) for the Milwaukee and St. Louis Hawks. The Hawks moved to Atlanta following the 1968-69 season after being purchased by a group based in Georgia.
Pettit's stats in the All-Star Game are appropriately stellar. He scored over 20 points seven times and recorded nine double-doubles. In the four MVP games, he tore down 24, 26, 16 and 27 rebounds.
Look at the size of that MVP trophy. It gets smaller over time.
Boston CELTICS: (Tie) Bob Cousy and Bill Russell
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Trying to determine the best Celtic All-Star is a little like having to pick between the Mona Lisa, statue of David,The Last Supper and then some, but in the end Bob Cousy and Bill Russell edge out Larry Bird for a couple of reasons.
Bird and Russell have an All-Star Game MVP, but Cousy's got two.
Cousy played in 13 All-Star Games in a row, compared to Russell's 12 and Bird's 10.
But Russell's five straight double-doubles (1961-1965) forces the tie.
Charlotte BOBCATS: Gerald Wallace
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There's Gerald Wallace in between Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
He scored two points in his only All-Star Game appearance in 2010, but he's the only Bobcat to make it, so he's the best.
Chicago BULLS: Michael Jordan
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Michael Jordan was a 12-time All-Star for the Chicago Bulls, winning the game MVP three times.
Jordan scored in double figures 10 times including 40 in 1988 and 30 in 1993.
Cleveland CAVALIERS: LeBron James
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LeBron James didn't make the All-Star Game his rookie year, but he made the next six for Cleveland.
James owns two game MVPs and this scoring line: 13, 29, 28, 27, 20 and 25.
Dallas MAVERICKS: Dirk Nowitzki
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Dirk Nowitzki's been a Dallas Mavericks All-Star 10 years in a row, including this year.
Denver NUGGETS: Alex English
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No one has more All-Star appearances for the Denver Nuggets than Alex English (and it doesn't look like Carmelo Anthony will catch him).
English scored in double figures in five of his eight straight All-Star Games from 1982-1989.
Detroit PISTONS: Isiah Thomas
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Isiah Thomas played his whole career and 11 All-Star Games for the Detroit Pistons.
Thomas has two All-Star Game MVPs and scored in double figures nine times, including 30 in 1986.
Golden State WARRIORS: Wilt Chamberlain
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Before he was a Laker or a 76er, Wilt Chamberlain was a Warrior (first in Philadelphia, then in San Francisco).
Paul Arizin has the most All-Star appearances in Warrior history with nine, but Wilt the Stilt's six-year All-Star stint is insane:
Year: Pts, Rebounds
1960: 23, 25
1961: 12, 18
1962: 42, 24
1963: 17, 19
1964: 19, 20
1965: 20, 16
Houston ROCKETS: Hakeem Olujawon
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Hakeem Olajuwon appeared in 12 All-Star Games for the Rockets and scored in every one.
Only one other player, Calvin Murphy, has even played for Houston that long.
Indiana PACERS: Reggie Miller
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Reggie Miller has a mediocre statline in his All-Star Games representing Indiana, but no other Pacer can match his five appearances.
Los Angeles CLIPPERS: Bob McAdoo
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The LA Clippers originated on the East Coast, as the Buffalo Braves in 1971. They moved to San Diego and became the Clippers in 1979 and took the name with them when they finally settled in Los Angeles in 1985.
Multi-team (8) Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo began his career in Buffalo and went to four straight All-Star Games starting with his sophomore campaign. He scored in double figures in all four, including 30 in 1977.
Los Angeles LAKERS: (Tie) Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has played in the most All-Star Games of any NBA player, 18 (19 selections). But five of those were with the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving the door open for Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson to squeak through as the best LA Laker All-Star players.
Kobe already has 11 All-Star Games under his belt and will likely have a few more. He's also taken home the game's MVP three times and his numbers are out there, including double figures in scoring nine times (and 31 points twice).
Magic's got 11 appearances too, but just two game MVPs and didn't score as much, but his six-year assists streak (16, 22, 15, 15, 13, 19) prevented Kobe from running away with it.
Memphis GRIZZLIES: Zach Randolph
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The Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies have had two All Stars.
Pau Gasol scored zero points in his game and Zach Randolph scored eight.
Zach Randolph is the greatest All-Star in Grizzlies history.
Miami HEAT: Dwyane Wade
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Dwyane Wade has more All-Star selections than any other Miami Heat cager with six, scoring in double figures each time.
He's the reigning All-Star Game MVP, following his 28-point, 11-assist performance last year.
Milwaukee BUCKS: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Before he was an LA Laker, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a Milwaukee Buck, and though he fell just barely short of Kobe and Magic as the brightest LA All-Star, he stands tall as the best Bucks All Star.
Jabbar was selected to six All-Star Games in his first six years and had two double-doubles. He never won the All-Star Game MVP in all his 18 appearances.
Minnesota TIMBERWOLVES: Kevin Garnett
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Kevin Garnett, by far the best player to ever don a Timberwolves jersey, went to the All-Star Game 10 years in a row for Minnesota.
He won the game's MVP in 2003 with 37 points and nine rebounds.
New Jersey NETS: Jason Kidd
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There's not much to choose from when considering New Jersey All-Star history, especially when Dr. J's time with the Nets was in the ABA.
Jason Kidd and his five All-Star selections for the Nets tops the list. He had a double-double in the 2004 contest.
New Orleans HORNETS: Glen Rice
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Chris Paul has a little ways to go. In the meantime, it's Glen Rice who is the best Hornets All-Star.
While Paul is notching his fourth All-Star appearance this year, one more than Rice, Rice's 26-point performance in 1997 nailed him the MVP trophy.
New York KNICKS: (Tie) Willis Reed and Walt Frazier
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Another close one, but Willis Reed and Walt Frazier beat out Patrick Ewing as New York's greatest All-Stars.
While Ewing is probably the greatest Knick ever and has solid All-Star numbers in two additional All-Star Games, Reed and Frazier have a game MVP each.
In 1970, Reed went for 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Frazier scored 30 in the 1975 game.
Oklahoma City THUNDER: Gary Payton
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After 41 years in Seattle, the Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City and changed their name to the Thunder in 2009.
Gary Payton is the best All-Star in Seattle history. Though he did not win an All-Star Game MVP like Lenny Wilkens or Tom Chambers, Payton attended the big game nine times, by far the most of any Supersonic.
Orlando MAGIC: Dwight Howard
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It's very close, but Dwight Howard edges out Tracy McGrady as the top Orlando Magic All-Star.
Howard will play in his fifth game this year, while McGrady finished with four in his time in Orlando.
While they both have scored about the same number of points, Howard has over 20 more rebounds.
Philadelphia 76ERS: Julius "Dr. J" Erving
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If you think the Celtics, Lakers and Knicks have a lot of All-Stars to chose from, say hello to the Philadelphia 76ers and Allen Iverson, Wilt Chamberlain, Dolph Schayes, Hal Greer and Charles Barkley.
But who's the best All-Star?
Julius "Dr. J" Erving, of course, with 11 All-Star Games in a row, two MVPs and 25 points or more four times.
Phoenix SUNS: Amar'e Stoudemire
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Shaquille O'Neal gets an honorable mention here. The old veteran's won three All-Star Game MVPs, the last one just two years ago in 2009 for the Suns.
But Amar'e Stoudemire is the best All-Star to come out of Phoenix. Yes, ahead of KJ, Nash, Barkley and just barely, Paul Westphal.
Stoudemire represented the Suns five times in the big game, one short of team leader Walter Davis, but he's got the most career All-Star points for the Suns, including 29 in '07.
Portland TRAIL BLAZERS: Clyde Drexler
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No Trail Blazer comes close to Clyde Drexler's eight All-Star appearances, where he glided to double-figures in points five times.
Sacramento KINGS: Oscar Robertson
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The Sacramento Kings joined the NBA as the Rochester Royals in 1949. Eight years later they moved to Cincinnati. Three years later, in 1960, the Big O, Oscar Robertson, lit up the NBA.
He played in 10 straight All-Star Games for the Cincinnati Royals, right from his rookie season and took home three game MVPs.
His numbers are completely ridiculous: over 20 points eight times and a total of 76 assists and 64 rebounds.
San Antonio SPURS: Tim Duncan
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Tim Duncan's All-Star numbers have trailed off the last four years and some are saying he didn't even deserve the nod this year.
But he still comes out ahead of David Robinson and George Gervin as the No. 1 All-Star in San Antonio Spurs history.
Duncan has the most appearances (13), and even though he has less total points than Robinson, he's head and shoulders above any other Spur in All-Star Game rebounds and assists.
Toronto RAPTORS: Chris Bosh
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Chris Bosh just barely beats out Vince Carter as the best Toronto Raptors All-Star.
Both have four appearances out of five selections and their numbers are neck and neck, but Bosh's rebounds and 23-point game last year put him over the top.
Utah JAZZ: Karl Malone
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The Mailman's 14 All-Star selections are the most in Utah Jazz history, and he's got two All-Star Game MVPs to boot.
Washington WIZARDS: Elvin Hayes
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Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes played in the All-Star Game for the Baltimore Bullets, Capital Bullets and Washington Bullets—all predecessors to today's Washington Wizards.
In eight visits to the All-Star Game, Hayes had four double-doubles.
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