1996 NBA All-Star Game - East 129, West 118

The 46th NBA All-Star Game was played on February 11, 1996, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. In front of 36,037 spectators, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 129-118. Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan earned Most Valuable Player honors after scoring 20 points on eight-for-11 shooting in his first All-Star appearance since returning from retirement.

The game was one of the most anticipated events of the 1995-96 NBA season. Jordan had retired from professional basketball in October 1993 before returning to the Chicago Bulls in March 1995. His comeback restored one of the NBA's greatest attractions to the All-Star stage, and his appearance in San Antonio came during a remarkable season in which Chicago was pursuing a fourth championship of the decade.

Jordan played 22 minutes, making eight of 11 field goal attempts and all four of his free throws. He added four rebounds, one assist and one steal without committing a turnover. Although he was not the game's leading scorer, his efficient performance and the Eastern Conference victory helped him capture his second NBA All-Star Game MVP award. His first had come in 1988.

Orlando Magic center Shaquille O'Neal led all scorers with 25 points and added 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. O'Neal made 10 of 16 field goal attempts and helped give the Eastern Conference a strong presence around the basket. His Orlando teammate Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway contributed 18 points, seven assists and three rebounds.

The opening half was competitive. The Eastern Conference led 33-32 after the first quarter and outscored the West 28-26 in the second, taking a narrow 61-58 advantage into halftime. Both teams had numerous scoring options, and neither conference established a substantial lead during the first 24 minutes.

The game changed dramatically in the third quarter. The East outscored the West 41-22, turning its three-point halftime advantage into a 102-80 lead entering the final period. That 19-point third-quarter scoring advantage ultimately decided the contest.

The Western Conference responded with 38 points in the fourth quarter, compared with 27 for the East, but the comeback was not enough. The Eastern Conference finished with an 11-point victory, 129-118.

Detroit Pistons forward Grant Hill scored 14 points, grabbed three rebounds and handed out two assists for the East. Hill had led the NBA in All-Star fan voting for the second consecutive year, receiving 1,358,004 votes. His popularity was particularly impressive because he was only in his second NBA season.

Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen added eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Pippen and Jordan were reunited as Eastern Conference All-Star teammates after Jordan's absence from the 1994 and 1995 games.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Terrell Brandon scored 11 points and handed out three assists in his first NBA All-Star appearance. Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller and New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing each contributed eight points, while Charlotte Hornets forward Glen Rice scored seven.

The East also featured Milwaukee Bucks forward Vin Baker, Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning and Washington Bullets forward Juwan Howard. Howard scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in what would be the only All-Star Game appearance of his NBA career.

For the Western Conference, Seattle SuperSonics guard Gary Payton and San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson shared the scoring lead with 18 points apiece. Payton also recorded five rebounds, five assists and five steals. Robinson added 11 rebounds and two blocked shots while playing before his home crowd.

Seattle forward Shawn Kemp and San Antonio forward Sean Elliott each scored 13 points. Elliott made two three-pointers and grabbed five rebounds, while Kemp collected four rebounds and blocked one shot.

Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Malone made seven of eight free throws and added two assists. His teammate John Stockton contributed four points and three assists in 18 minutes.

Houston Rockets guard Clyde Drexler scored 11 points and recorded three assists and three steals. Drexler was making his first All-Star appearance as a member of the Rockets after previously representing the Portland Trail Blazers. His Houston teammate Hakeem Olajuwon contributed four points and three rebounds.

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd made his NBA All-Star debut and immediately established himself as one of the game's outstanding passers. Kidd scored seven points, handed out a game-high 10 assists and grabbed six rebounds in 22 minutes.

The Western Conference also received contributions from Sacramento Kings guard Mitch Richmond, Phoenix Suns forward Charles Barkley and Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo. Richmond scored seven points, Barkley added eight, and Mutombo collected nine rebounds in only 11 minutes.

The Eastern Conference shot 51.0 percent from the field, making 50 of 98 attempts. The West shot 47.1 percent, connecting on 48 of 102 attempts. Both conferences made four three-pointers, but the East held a 25-18 advantage in made free throws.

The West outrebounded the East 57-44 and recorded 31 assists compared with 28 for the East. However, the Western Conference committed 26 turnovers, six more than the East, which helped the Eastern Conference generate additional scoring opportunities.

The game also highlighted the growing importance of a younger generation of NBA stars. Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Penny Hardaway and Juwan Howard were among the players who represented the league's future alongside established stars such as Jordan, Pippen, Olajuwon, Barkley, Ewing, Robinson, Malone and Stockton.

All-Star Weekend included a memorable Slam Dunk Contest victory by Los Angeles Clippers rookie Brent Barry, who won with a free-throw-line dunk. Washington Bullets guard Tim Legler captured the Three-Point Shootout, while Toronto Raptors rookie Damon Stoudamire earned Rookie Game MVP honors.

The 1996 NBA All-Star Game remains especially memorable for Jordan's return to the event, his second All-Star MVP award and the Eastern Conference's dominant third quarter. The game took place during the NBA's 50th anniversary season, adding historical significance to an already celebrated event.

Date: February 11, 1996
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Arena: Alamodome
Attendance: 36,037
Winning Team: Eastern Conference, 129-118
Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Eastern Conference Coach: Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls
Western Conference Coach: George Karl, Seattle SuperSonics
Officials: Ed T. Rush, Ed Middleton and Ronnie Nunn
Leading Fan Vote Recipient: Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons (1,358,004 votes)
Television: NBC
Slam Dunk Contest Winner: Brent Barry, Los Angeles Clippers
Three-Point Shootout Winner: Tim Legler, Washington Bullets
Rookie Game: East 94, West 92
Rookie Game MVP: Damon Stoudamire, Toronto Raptors

Head Coach: Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls

Head Coach: George Karl, Seattle SuperSonics

Statistical abbreviations: MIN = Minutes Played; FG = Field Goals Made-Attempted; 3PT = Three-Point Field Goals Made-Attempted; FT = Free Throws Made-Attempted; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocked Shots; TO = Turnovers; PTS = Points.

Team shooting: East: 50-for-98 FG (51.0%), 4-for-15 3PT (26.7%), 25-for-31 FT (80.6%). West: 48-for-102 FG (47.1%), 4-for-25 3PT (16.0%), 18-for-21 FT (85.7%).

Michael Jordan Returns to the All-Star Game

The 1996 game marked Michael Jordan's first All-Star appearance since his return to the NBA in March 1995. Jordan had missed the 1994 and 1995 games following his first retirement. His return to the All-Star stage was one of the biggest stories of the weekend, particularly as the Chicago Bulls were in the middle of their historic 72-win season.

Jordan Wins His Second All-Star MVP Award

Jordan scored 20 points on eight-for-11 shooting and made all four free throws. He became a two-time All-Star Game MVP, having previously won the award in 1988. Jordan would win a third All-Star MVP in 1998.

Shaquille O'Neal Leads All Scorers

Orlando Magic center Shaquille O'Neal scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He made 10 of 16 field goal attempts and blocked two shots. Despite leading the game in scoring, O'Neal finished behind Jordan in the MVP voting.

The Eastern Conference Dominates the Third Quarter

The East held only a 61-58 halftime lead before erupting for 41 points in the third quarter. The Western Conference scored just 22 points in the period, allowing the East to enter the fourth quarter with a commanding 102-80 advantage.

Grant Hill Leads All-Star Fan Voting

Detroit Pistons forward Grant Hill received 1,358,004 votes, the most of any NBA player. It was the second consecutive season that Hill led the league in All-Star fan voting. He scored 14 points in the game.

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen Reunite

Jordan and Pippen appeared together in the All-Star Game for the first time since 1993. Pippen finished with eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Their reunion reflected the return of the Chicago Bulls as the NBA's dominant championship contender.

Penny Hardaway Scores 18 Points

Orlando Magic guard Penny Hardaway scored 18 points on six-for-eight shooting, including two three-pointers. He added seven assists and three rebounds, helping the East generate consistent offense throughout the contest.

Jason Kidd Records 10 Assists in His All-Star Debut

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd made his first NBA All-Star appearance and led all players with 10 assists. Kidd also scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds in 22 minutes. His passing ability was already establishing him as one of the NBA's most promising young point guards.

Gary Payton Records Five Steals

Seattle SuperSonics guard Gary Payton scored 18 points, handed out five assists and recorded five steals. His combination of scoring, passing and defense was among the most productive performances for the Western Conference.

David Robinson Scores 18 Points in San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds before his home crowd. Robinson made eight of 13 field goal attempts and added two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Sean Elliott Represents the Host City

San Antonio Spurs forward Sean Elliott scored 13 points, made two three-pointers and collected five rebounds. Elliott and Robinson gave the host city two Western Conference representatives.

Karl Malone Adds 11 Points and Nine Rebounds

Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 20 minutes. Malone made seven of eight free throws and added two assists and one steal.

John Stockton Makes Another All-Star Appearance

Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton scored four points and handed out three assists in 18 minutes. Stockton and Malone continued their long run of representing Utah together at the NBA All-Star Game.

Juwan Howard Makes His Only All-Star Appearance

Washington Bullets forward Juwan Howard scored two points, grabbed six rebounds and recorded two assists. The 1996 game would be his only NBA All-Star appearance during a career that lasted nearly two decades.

Terrell Brandon Makes His All-Star Debut

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Terrell Brandon scored 11 points and handed out three assists in his first NBA All-Star Game. Brandon would return to the event in 1997.

Alonzo Mourning Represents the Miami Heat

Alonzo Mourning made his first All-Star appearance as a member of the Miami Heat after beginning his career with the Charlotte Hornets. Mourning scored two points and blocked one shot in 13 minutes.

Clyde Drexler Represents Houston

Clyde Drexler made his first All-Star appearance as a Houston Rocket after seven previous All-Star selections with Portland. Drexler scored 11 points, handed out three assists and recorded three steals.

The West Wins the Rebounding Battle

The Western Conference grabbed 57 rebounds, compared with 44 for the East. David Robinson led the West with 11 rebounds, while Dikembe Mutombo and Karl Malone each collected nine. Despite that advantage, the West's 26 turnovers limited its scoring opportunities.

Phil Jackson Coaches the Eastern Conference

Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson guided the Eastern Conference. His team included Chicago stars Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, who combined for 28 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

George Karl Coaches the Western Conference

Seattle SuperSonics head coach George Karl coached the West. Seattle players Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp combined for 31 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Brent Barry Wins the Slam Dunk Contest

Los Angeles Clippers rookie Brent Barry won the 1996 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. His signature dunk came when he took off from the free-throw line, an achievement closely associated with earlier dunk contest performances by Julius Erving and Michael Jordan.

Tim Legler Wins the Three-Point Shootout

Washington Bullets guard Tim Legler won the 1996 NBA Three-Point Shootout. Legler was known for his outside shooting and would lead the NBA in three-point field goal percentage during the 1995-96 regular season.

Damon Stoudamire Wins Rookie Game MVP

Toronto Raptors point guard Damon Stoudamire recorded 19 points and 11 assists to lead the Eastern Conference rookies to a 94-92 victory over the Western Conference rookies. Golden State Warriors rookie Joe Smith scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds for the West.

The NBA Celebrates Its 50th Season

The 1995-96 season marked the NBA's 50th season, tracing the league's history to the founding of the Basketball Association of America in 1946. The 1996 All-Star Game brought together many of the stars who defined the league's growth during the 1980s and 1990s.

Who won the 1996 NBA All-Star Game?

The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 129-118 on February 11, 1996.

Who was the 1996 NBA All-Star Game MVP?

Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls won MVP honors after scoring 20 points on eight-for-11 shooting.

Where was the 1996 NBA All-Star Game played?

The game was played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Who scored the most points in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game?

Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic led all players with 25 points. Michael Jordan scored 20 for the Eastern Conference, while Gary Payton and David Robinson led the West with 18 apiece.

Who had the most assists in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game?

Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks led all players with 10 assists. Penny Hardaway led the Eastern Conference with seven.

Who had the most rebounds in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game?

David Robinson led all players with 11 rebounds. Shaquille O'Neal grabbed 10, while Karl Malone and Dikembe Mutombo each collected nine.

Was 1996 Michael Jordan's first All-Star Game after retirement?

Yes. Jordan had retired in October 1993 and returned to the NBA in March 1995. The 1996 game was his first All-Star appearance since returning.

How many All-Star MVP awards had Michael Jordan won by 1996?

Jordan won his second All-Star Game MVP award in 1996. His first came in 1988.

Which Utah Jazz players appeared in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game?

Karl Malone and John Stockton represented the Utah Jazz. Malone scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Stockton added four points and three assists.

Who represented the San Antonio Spurs?

David Robinson and Sean Elliott represented the host-city Spurs. Robinson scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Elliott scored 13 points.

Who led the 1996 NBA All-Star fan voting?

Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons led all players with 1,358,004 votes.

What was the halftime score?

The Eastern Conference led 61-58 at halftime.

What was the decisive quarter?

The Eastern Conference outscored the Western Conference 41-22 in the third quarter, extending its lead to 102-80.

How many fans attended the 1996 NBA All-Star Game?

The announced attendance was 36,037.

Who coached the 1996 NBA All-Star teams?

Phil Jackson of the Chicago Bulls coached the Eastern Conference, while George Karl of the Seattle SuperSonics coached the Western Conference.

Who won the 1996 NBA Slam Dunk Contest?

Brent Barry of the Los Angeles Clippers won the Slam Dunk Contest.

Who won the 1996 NBA Three-Point Shootout?

Tim Legler of the Washington Bullets won the Three-Point Shootout.

Who won the 1996 NBA Rookie Game?

The Eastern Conference rookies defeated the Western Conference rookies 94-92. Damon Stoudamire of the Toronto Raptors was named MVP.

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