1971 NBA ALL-STAR GAME - FINAL SCORE
WEST 108 - EAST 107
Lenny Wilkens: 21 Points | All-Star Game MVP
1971 NBA All-Star Game Overview
The 21st NBA All-Star Game took place on January 12, 1971, at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 108-107 in a closely contested game featuring many of the league's greatest players, including Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Willis Reed, John Havlicek, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then also known as Lew Alcindor.
Seattle SuperSonics guard Lenny Wilkens earned Most Valuable Player honors after scoring a game-high 21 points in just 20 minutes off the bench. Wilkens made eight of his 11 field goal attempts and converted all five free throws. His performance helped the West secure a narrow victory despite the East holding a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
The West led 30-26 after the opening period and 62-60 at halftime. The East rallied in the third quarter to move ahead 83-82, but the Western Conference outscored the East 26-24 in the final period to win by one point.
The game was especially meaningful for San Diego, which was home to the NBA's San Diego Rockets. The franchise relocated to Houston following the 1970-71 season. The game also marked the first All-Star appearances by representatives of the expansion Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers.
Game Information
Date: January 12, 1971
Location: San Diego, California
Arena: San Diego Sports Arena
Attendance: 14,378
Winning Team: Western Conference, 108-107
Most Valuable Player: Lenny Wilkens, Seattle SuperSonics
Eastern Conference Coach: Red Holzman, New York Knicks
Western Conference Coach: Larry Costello, Milwaukee Bucks
Referees: Mendy Rudolph and Ed Rush
Score by Quarter
| Conference | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|
| Eastern Conference | 26 | 34 | 23 | 24 | 107 |
| Western Conference | 30 | 32 | 20 | 26 | 108 |
Eastern Conference All-Stars - 107 Points
Head Coach: Red Holzman, New York Knicks
| Player | Team | MIN | FGM | FGA | FTM | FTA | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|
| Billy Cunningham | Philadelphia 76ers | 19 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| John Havlicek | Boston Celtics | 24 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
| Willis Reed | New York Knicks | 27 | 5 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 14 |
| Earl Monroe | Baltimore Bullets | 18 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Walt Frazier | New York Knicks | 26 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Johnny Green | Cincinnati Royals | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Dave DeBusschere | New York Knicks | 19 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 8 |
| Lou Hudson | Atlanta Hawks | 17 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
| Gus Johnson | Baltimore Bullets | 23 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| John Johnson | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob Kauffman | Buffalo Braves | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wes Unseld | Baltimore Bullets | 21 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
| Tom Van Arsdale | Cincinnati Royals | 11 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Jo Jo White | Boston Celtics | 22 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 10 |
| TEAM TOTALS | | 240 | 49 | 118 | 9 | 18 | 68 | 25 | 107 |
Western Conference All-Stars - 108 Points
Head Coach: Larry Costello, Milwaukee Bucks
| Player | Team | MIN | FGM | FGA | FTM | FTA | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|
| Connie Hawkins | Phoenix Suns | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerry Lucas | San Francisco Warriors | 29 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 12 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks | 30 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 19 |
| Dave Bing | Detroit Pistons | 19 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers | 20 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| Elvin Hayes | San Diego Rockets | 19 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| Bob Love | Chicago Bulls | 21 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | Los Angeles Lakers | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| Jeff Mullins | San Francisco Warriors | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Geoff Petrie | Portland Trail Blazers | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Oscar Robertson | Milwaukee Bucks | 24 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Dick Van Arsdale | Phoenix Suns | 12 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Chet Walker | Chicago Bulls | 19 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| Lenny Wilkens (MVP) | Seattle SuperSonics | 20 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 21 |
| TEAM TOTALS | | 240 | 43 | 95 | 22 | 31 | 53 | 31 | 108 |
Statistical abbreviations: MIN = Minutes Played; FGM = Field Goals Made; FGA = Field Goals Attempted; FTM = Free Throws Made; FTA = Free Throws Attempted; REB = Total Rebounds; AST = Assists; PTS = Points. The NBA did not introduce the three-point line until the 1979-80 season.
1971 NBA All-Star Game Historical Notes
Lenny Wilkens Wins All-Star MVP
Lenny Wilkens became the first player from the Seattle SuperSonics to earn NBA All-Star Game MVP honors. Wilkens was also serving as Seattle's player-coach during the 1970-71 season. His 21 points led all scorers, and his 72.7 percent field goal shooting helped carry the West to victory.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, recorded 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Los Angeles Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain scored only two points but contributed eight rebounds and five assists in 18 minutes. The two legendary centers were among the most recognizable stars in professional basketball.
Willis Reed's Final All-Star Game
Willis Reed, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, recorded 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Eastern Conference. Reed was making his seventh and final NBA All-Star Game appearance. His performance came less than a year after leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship.
Expansion Teams Make Their All-Star Debuts
The 1970-71 season welcomed three new NBA franchises: the Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers. Each team had a representative in the 1971 All-Star Game. Bob Kauffman represented Buffalo, John Johnson represented Cleveland, and Geoff Petrie represented Portland.
San Diego's Place in NBA History
The 1971 All-Star Game was held at the San Diego Sports Arena, home of the San Diego Rockets. Elvin Hayes represented the hometown team and contributed 10 points. The Rockets moved to Houston after the season, and San Diego later returned to the NBA when the Buffalo Braves relocated there in 1978 and became the San Diego Clippers.
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