The stars are about to shine in Indianapolis.
The 73rd NBA All-Star Game will take place at the home of the Indiana Pacers, and this year’s contest will return to its original format. The league has chosen to return to a confrontation between conferences after using captains for the last six editions.
Before the NBA’s top talent takes the court Sunday night, here’s a look at past winners in All-Star Game history.
When was the first NBA All-Star Game?
The NBA All-Star Game began in 1951, with the East winning over the West 111-94. Boston Garden. The event has been held every year since, with the exception of 1999, when the NBA lockout forced the cancellation of the All-Star Game.
In addition to the previous 72 NBA All-Star Games, there were also nine ABA All-Star Games from 1968 to 1976.
Which conference has won the most NBA All-Star Games?
The Eastern Conference has 37 NBA All-Star Game wins, while the Western Conference has 29.
The East dominated the first five decades of All-Star history, but the West came into its own before the format shifted from conferences to captains, winning six of seven games between 2011 and 2017.
Which player has been captain in the most NBA All-Star Games?
Not only is LeBron James the NBA all-time leading scorer – he is also 5-1 as an NBA All-Star captain.
The league revamped its All-Star format by introducing a captain from each conference in 2018. Those two players would then be selected from the remaining player pool, starting with the voted-in starters before moving to the reserves.
James was named an All-Star captain for the sixth straight year in 2023 and put his perfect record on the line in Salt Lake City. Team LeBron was 5-0 with wins against Team Stephen (2018), Team Giannis (2019, 2020), and Team Durant (2021, 2022).
Giannis Antetokounmpo was named captain for the third time in his career in 2023 and helped hand James his first All-Star loss since the conference affiliation disappeared, earning a 184-175 victory.
Which player has won the most NBA All-Star selections?
James was selected to his 20th career NBA All-Star team in 2024, breaking a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most in history.
After Abdul-Jabbar’s 19 caps, Kobe Bryant (18), Tim Duncan (15), Shaquille O’Neal (15) and Kevin Garnett (15) are next on the list. The NBA named the All-Star Game MVP Award after Bryant in 2020.
Has the NBA All-Star Game ever gone into overtime?
Six NBA All-Star Games have gone to overtime. The most recent occasion came in 2003, when the West needed two overtimes to get past the East in Atlanta.
All-Star overtimes are a thing of the past with the installation of the Elam Ending in 2020.
Complete NBA All-Star Game Results
Here are the scores from the first 72 NBA All-Star Games:
- 1951: East 111, West 94
- 1952: East 108, West 91
- 1953: West 79, East 75
- 1954: East 98, West 93 (OT)
- 1955: East 100, West 91
- 1956: West 108, East 94
- 1957: East 109, West 97
- 1958: East 130, West 118
- 1959: West 124, East 108
- 1960: East 125, West 115
- 1961: West 153, East 131
- 1962: West 150, East 130
- 1963: East 115, West 108
- 1964: East 111, West 107
- 1965: East 124, West 123
- 1966: East 137, West 94
- 1967: West 135, East 120
- 1968: East 144, West 124
- 1969: East 123, West 112
- 1970: East 142, West 135
- 1971: West 108, East 107
- 1972: West 112, East 110
- 1973: East 104, West 84
- 1974: West 134, East 123
- 1975: East 108, West 102
- 1976: East 123, West 109
- 1977: West 125, East 124
- 1978: East 133, West 125
- 1979: West 134, East 129
- 1980: East 144, West 136 (OT)
- 1981: East 123, West 120
- 1982: East 120, West 118
- 1983: East 132, West 123
- 1984: East 154, West 145 (OT)
- 1985: West 140, East 129
- 1986: East 139, West 132
- 1987: West 154, East 149 (OT)
- 1988: East 138, West 133
- 1989: West 143, East 134
- 1990: East 130, West 113
- 1991: East 116, West 114
- 1992: West 153, East 113
- 1993: West 135, East 132 (OT)
- 1994: East 127, West 118
- 1995: West 139, East 112
- 1996: East 129, West 118
- 1997: East 132, West 120
- 1998: East 135, West 114
- 2000: West 137, East 126
- 2001: East 111, West 110
- 2002: West 135, East 120
- 2003: West 155, East 145 (2OT)
- 2004: West 136, East 132
- 2005: East 125, West 115
- 2006: East 122, West 120
- 2007: West 153, East 132
- 2008: East 134, West 128
- 2009: West 146, East 119
- 2010: East 141, West 139
- 2011: West 148, East 143
- 2012: West 152, East 149
- 2013: West 143, East 138
- 2014: East 163, West 155
- 2015: West 163, East 158
- 2016: West 196, East 173
- 2017: West 192, East 182
- 2018: Team LeBron 148, Team Stephen 145
- 2019: Team LeBron 178, Team Giannis 164
- 2020: Team LeBron 157, Team Giannis 155
- 2021: Team LeBron 170, Team Durant 150
- 2022: Team LeBron 163, Team Durant 160
- 2023: Team Giannis 184, Team LeBron 175
