1952 NBA ALL-STAR GAME
East 108 - West 91
Eastern All-Stars defeat Western All-Stars
MVP: Paul Arizin - Philadelphia Warriors
1952 NBA All-Star Game Summary
| Game | 2nd NBA All-Star Game |
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| Date | Monday, February 11, 1952 |
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| Location | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Winner | Eastern All-Stars |
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| Final Score | East 108, West 91 |
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| Margin of Victory | 17 points |
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| MVP | Paul Arizin, Philadelphia Warriors |
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| East Coach | Al Cervi, Syracuse Nationals |
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| West Coach | John Kundla, Minneapolis Lakers |
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| Referees | Sid Borgia and Stan Stutz |
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| Attendance | 10,211 |
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The NBA's Second All-Star Game
The NBA returned to Boston Garden on February 11, 1952, for its second annual All-Star Game. After the success of the inaugural event in 1951, the league once again brought together its top players for an Eastern Division versus Western Division exhibition.
The Eastern All-Stars defeated the Western All-Stars 108-91, winning by the same 17-point margin as the previous year. Philadelphia Warriors forward Paul Arizin scored 26 points and was recognized as the game's Most Valuable Player.
Arizin's performance helped the East overcome an impressive effort by Minneapolis Lakers center George Mikan, who also scored 26 points and collected a game-high 15 rebounds. Boston Celtics guard Bob Cousy contributed nine points and a game-high 13 assists for the East.
The game featured players from several franchises that would later relocate or cease operations, including the Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals, Indianapolis Olympians, Milwaukee Hawks, Syracuse Nationals and original Baltimore Bullets.
1952 All-Star Game Scoring by Quarter
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
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| West | 22 | 22 | 27 | 20 | 91 |
| East | 26 | 23 | 33 | 26 | 108 |
The East led 26-22 after the first quarter and held a 49-44 advantage at halftime. The game remained competitive until the Eastern All-Stars produced a 33-point third quarter, expanding their lead to 82-71.
The East then outscored the West 26-20 in the fourth quarter to complete the 17-point victory. The Eastern team shot 49.4 percent from the field, compared with 35.9 percent for the West.
Western All-Stars Box Score - 91 Points
Head Coach: John Kundla, Minneapolis Lakers
Leading Scorer: George Mikan, 26 points
Leading Rebounder: George Mikan, 15 rebounds
Leading Assists: Jim Pollard, Bob Davies and Bobby Wanzer, 5 each
| Player | Team | MIN | FGM | FGA | FTM | FTA | REB | AST | PTS |
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| Jim Pollard | Minneapolis Lakers | 29 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 4 |
| Leo Barnhorst | Indianapolis Olympians | 23 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | 29 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 26 |
| Bob Davies | Rochester Royals | 27 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Bobby Wanzer | Rochester Royals | 22 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Frankie Brian | Fort Wayne Pistons | 25 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 13 |
| Vern Mikkelsen | Minneapolis Lakers | 23 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 12 |
| Dike Eddleman | Milwaukee Hawks | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Arnie Risen | Rochester Royals | 19 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Paul Walther | Indianapolis Olympians | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| TOTALS | 240 | 37 | 103 | 17 | 21 | 59 | 27 | 91 |
Did Not Play: Larry Foust, Fort Wayne Pistons. Foust was selected to the Western All-Star team but missed the game because of an injury. Arnie Risen was named as his replacement.
Eastern All-Stars Box Score - 108 Points
Head Coach: Al Cervi, Syracuse Nationals
Leading Scorer: Paul Arizin, 26 points
Leading Rebounder: Harry Gallatin, 9 rebounds
Leading Assists: Bob Cousy, 13 assists
| Player | Team | MIN | FGM | FGA | FTM | FTA | REB | AST | PTS |
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| Paul Arizin | Philadelphia Warriors | 32 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 26 |
| Harry Gallatin | New York Knicks | 22 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 7 |
| Ed Macauley | Boston Celtics | 28 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 15 |
| Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | 33 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 9 |
| Andy Phillip | Philadelphia Warriors | 30 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| Joe Fulks | Philadelphia Warriors | 9 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Red Rocha | Syracuse Nationals | 28 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 12 |
| Max Zaslofsky | New York Knicks | 25 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| Dick McGuire | New York Knicks | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Fred Scolari | Baltimore Bullets | 15 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| TOTALS | 240 | 39 | 79 | 30 | 37 | 44 | 37 | 108 |
Did Not Play: Dolph Schayes, Syracuse Nationals. Schayes was selected to the Eastern All-Star team but missed the game because of an injury. Harry Gallatin replaced him.
Statistics: MIN = Minutes; FGM = Field Goals Made; FGA = Field Goals Attempted; FTM = Free Throws Made; FTA = Free Throws Attempted; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; PTS = Points. Three-point field goals, steals and blocked shots were not officially recorded in this game.
Paul Arizin Wins the 1952 All-Star MVP
Philadelphia Warriors forward Paul Arizin delivered the game's outstanding offensive performance, scoring 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. He also converted all eight of his free-throw attempts and grabbed six rebounds.
Arizin was one of the NBA's leading scorers during the early 1950s and was known for his effective jump shot. His performance in Boston demonstrated the importance of skilled perimeter scoring at a time when centers and interior play dominated much of professional basketball.
Six Eastern players reached double figures: Arizin (26), Ed Macauley (15), Red Rocha (12), Andy Phillip (11), Max Zaslofsky (11) and Fred Scolari (10). That balanced offense helped the East overcome the individual production of George Mikan.
Although Arizin was the recognized MVP of the 1952 game, the honor was formally presented retroactively after the league established its All-Star MVP tradition.
George Mikan's 26-Point, 15-Rebound Performance
George Mikan, the centerpiece of the Minneapolis Lakers dynasty, matched Arizin with 26 points and led every player with 15 rebounds. He made nine field goals and eight free throws while playing 29 minutes.
The Western All-Stars also received 14 points from Leo Barnhorst, 13 from Frankie Brian and 12 from Vern Mikkelsen. Jim Pollard contributed 11 rebounds and five assists despite scoring only four points.
The West struggled with its shooting, making 37 of 103 field-goal attempts. Its 35.9 percent accuracy contrasted sharply with the East's 49.4 percent performance, which proved decisive.
1952 NBA All-Star Game Leaders
| Category | Player / Team | Statistic |
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| Most Points | Paul Arizin, East | 26 |
| Most Points | George Mikan, West | 26 |
| Most Rebounds | George Mikan, West | 15 |
| Most Assists | Bob Cousy, East | 13 |
| Most Field Goals Made | Paul Arizin and George Mikan | 9 each |
| Most Free Throws Made | Ed Macauley, East | 9 |
| Most Minutes Played | Bob Cousy, East | 33 |
| Highest-Scoring Quarter | Eastern All-Stars | 33, third quarter |
| Combined Points | East and West | 199 |
| Winning Margin | Eastern All-Stars | 17 points |
| Attendance | Boston Garden | 10,211 |
Historical Franchise Names in the 1952 Game
The 1952 All-Star Game featured several teams whose names and locations have changed over time. The Minneapolis Lakers eventually became the Los Angeles Lakers, while the Rochester Royals later became the Sacramento Kings.
The Milwaukee Hawks were the predecessors of today's Atlanta Hawks, and the Fort Wayne Pistons eventually relocated to Detroit. The Syracuse Nationals later became the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Philadelphia Warriors ultimately became the Golden State Warriors.
The Indianapolis Olympians and original Baltimore Bullets ceased operations. They should not be confused with later NBA franchises that used similar names.
Retaining the original franchise identities helps preserve the historical accuracy of early NBA box scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1952 NBA All-Star Game?
The Eastern All-Stars defeated the Western All-Stars 108-91 at Boston Garden.
Who was the 1952 NBA All-Star Game MVP?
Paul Arizin of the Philadelphia Warriors was recognized as MVP after scoring 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
When was the 1952 NBA All-Star Game played?
The game was played on Monday, February 11, 1952, at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Who scored the most points in the 1952 All-Star Game?
Paul Arizin of the East and George Mikan of the West tied for the game high with 26 points each.
Who had the most rebounds in the 1952 All-Star Game?
George Mikan led all players with 15 rebounds for the Western All-Stars.
Who had the most assists?
Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics recorded a game-high 13 assists for the Eastern All-Stars.
Who coached the 1952 All-Star teams?
Al Cervi of the Syracuse Nationals coached the East, and John Kundla of the Minneapolis Lakers coached the West.
How many fans attended the game?
The recorded attendance was 10,211 at Boston Garden.
Which All-Stars missed the game because of injuries?
Dolph Schayes of Syracuse and Larry Foust of Fort Wayne were selected but did not play. Harry Gallatin and Arnie Risen served as their replacements.
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