8
Nov
Opinion: Peter Brown
Why the 1987 NBA All-Star Game is the greatest of all time
Basketball opinion writer Peter Brown declares the 37th NBA All-Star is one of the greatest games ever played
Why the 1987 All-Star Game is the greatest NBA showcase of all-time
To rank any other All-Star Game and Weekend above the 1987 showcase is frivolous — and shows a complete lack of understanding of the history of the NBA.
Social media has polluted and narrowed the conversation with recency bias and the perpetual Michael Jordan's 90s vs generation next. The reality is the modern NBA All-Star Game and Weekend is a debacle and unwatchable. There is zero competitiveness and it is actually a detriment to the NBA product at a time when ratings are challenged.
Modern era players have a responsibility to the game, even more so, with the size of their pay cheques that those players who came before laid the ground work for these multi-multi million dollar contracts.
In 1987, the height of basketball's greatest era, being selected as an NBA All-Star was the pinnacle — the ultimate recognition for the true superstars of the game.
Sixteen Hall of Famers suited up in the 37th edition at the Seattle King Dome, still the most of any All-Star Game, including Julius "The Doctor" Erving's last appearance in the showcase. The line-ups we so stacked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came off the bench in his 16th All Star Game ... the Greatest Basketball Player came off the bench.
Eastern Conference Hall of Famers
- Michael Jordan
- Larry Bird
- Isiah Thomas
- Moses Malone
- Dominique Wilkins
- Kevin McHale
- Robert Parish
- Julius Erving
- Charles Barkley
- Patrick Ewing
Western Conference Hall of Famers
Before I get to the actual game, All-Star Saturday's Dunk Contest was Michael Jordan's Kiss the Rim and Free Throw Dunk. Photos from that dunk contest are now some of the most iconic in NBA history.
Compare that to any dunk contest since, only Vince Carter in 2000 produced innovative dunks — without jumping over a mascot, a car or Shaquille O'Neal. There is nothing pure or creative about gimmicks.
Then there was Larry Bird winning the three-point shooting contest, the second of three in row.
Spend a moment going through the list of players above ... 16 Hall of Famers taking the mid-season classic seriously, recognising the honour and competing. The list should really be 17: San Antonio Spurs guard Alvin Robertson started in the West back court — with Magic Johnson — coming off the 1986 season as the Defensive Player of the Year. He is also only one of four players to record a quadruple double: 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals against the Phoenix Suns on February 18, 1986.
Pat O'Brien's CBS Preview Show was outstanding because it featured some of the game's greatest players talking about what it meant to them.
O’Brien intro'd the segment: “You're a star in college and you're a star in the NBA and suddenly, the phone rings and out of 276 players you're an All Star. Watch and listen…”
Magic Johnson: “It’s like a fantasy, you know, you're living a dream, it's almost like Christmas time for a little kid.”
Rolando Blackman: “It's a great chill that goes through you, you get goosebumps all over there and try to calm it down because you got a game to play.”
Charles Barkley: “I’ve just been thinking ‘oh, this is unbelievable 24 great players here and I'm one of them’ and I’m so excited.”
Mark Aguirre: “To think about Larry Bird, Kareem, Magic and all these guys on the same floor and you're supposed to be one of the best players in the world, it just doesn't hit home right away.”
Michael Jordan: “This year's going to be very special because it’s Doctor J’s last All-Star Game.”
Julius Erving: “There’s anxiety and there's eager anticipation.”
Isiah Thomas: “They use the word magical a lot you know and sometimes it's overused but in the All Star Game, when players are clicking like that, it’s magical.”
When was the last time you heard any NBA player in the current generation speak in such revered terms about the classic? Cue the contrast of Anthony Edwards — on a five-year $244.6M deal — talking about the 2024 mid-season now walkthrough.
"For me, it's an All-Star Game, so I don't think I will ever look at it like being super competitive," Edwards said via The Athletic. "It's always fun. I don't know what they can do to make it more competitive."
These were the East and West Squads in 1987:
Western Conference — Starters: Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers), Alvin Robertson (San Antonio Spurs), James Worthy (Los Angeles Lakers), Ralph Sampson (DNP Houston Rockets), Akeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets). Reserves: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers), Rolando Blackman (Dallas Mavericks), Sleepy Floyd (Golden State Warriors), Joe Barry Carroll (Golden State Warriors), Mark Aguirre (Dallas Mavericks), Walter Davis (Phoenix Suns), Alex English (Denver Nuggets), Tom Chambers (Seattle SuperSonics). Head coach: Pat Riley (Los Angeles Lakers).
Eastern Conference — Starters: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls), Julius Erving (Philadelphia 76ers), Dominique Wilkins (Atlanta Hawks), Larry Bird (Boston Celtics) and Moses Malone (Washington Bullets). Reserves: Kevin McHale (Boston Celtics), Isiah Thomas (Detroit Pistons), Charles Barkley (Philadelphia 76ers), Jeff Malone (Washington Bullets), Bill Laimbeer (Detroit Pistons), Robert Parish (Boston Celtics), and Maurice Cheeks (Philadelphia 76ers). Head coach: KC Jones (Boston Celtics).
From the tip-off every one of these guys played hard: Blocking shots, getting deflections, crashing the boards on both ends of the floor, challenging shots at the rim — and committing hard basketball fouls.
The play of the first quarter was Dr J's right hand behind the back, between the legs into a finger roll over Olajuwon. And then there's Dick Stockton and Tom Heinsohn in the commentary box. Heinsohn was in elite form talking about "wide bodies", "leapers" and "jets" while describing each player.
A young Charles Barkley, (H)akeem Olajuwon, MJ along with prime Bird coming off his third straight MVP, prime Magic with James Worthy on the cusp of becoming "Big Game James", Moses Malone dominating the boards and Isiah pushing the ball against Magic — was basketball nirvana.
As a 15-year-old, I watched this game at least 20 times, maybe 30, virtually wearing out the VHS tape.
1988 NBA Finals Match-up
In what was a preview to come Abdul-Jabbar went head-to-head with Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer in the post. It was Laimbeer who fouled Abdul-Jabbar in final seconds Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals to give the Lakers the win to force Game 7.
Ridiculously, Alex English only came off the bench in the second quarter. English was the leading scorer in the 80s, spearheading the Denver Nuggets' run and gun offense.
Bird said the day before: "The All-Star Game is more physical than a regular season game because they let you get away with more."
There were 14 blocks between the two teams, 71 free throws, 20 steals and 63 personal fouls. A proper game of basketball played by the "24 best players in the world" as O'Brien rightly described them at the top of the broadcast.
Heinsohn described Moses Malone as the "prime wide body in the NBA right now" as he drew a foul from Olajuwon down low. Malone is recognised as one of the greatest rebounders of all time. He had 18 rebounds and 27 points in 35 minutes — against the best players in the world.
Heinsohn again: "What a helpless feeling when you have a four on one and the man with the ball is Magic Johnson." Magic was in the middle of the floor and threw a no-look to teammate James Worthy for the score.
Worthy ended up with three dunks — one a fast break Statue of Liberty — to punctuate the second quarter as well as sweet spin move in the post for two.
The half finished 70-65. Erving had nine points and Blackman 13.
The East dominated the 3rd quarter with Bird hitting a fade away — and getting a breakaway dunk! and a beautiful pull-up on the break — and Jordan with a double pump breakaway.
But it's the 4th quarter that is now part of NBA folklore.
Watch Rolando Blackman relive the moment on the 30th anniversary
"Confidence, Confidence, Baby!"
The West was down 12 with about five minutes to go. They went a run to tie it up. Kevin McHale missed a tough baseline fadeaway but Moses Malone was right at the rim for an offensive tip-in.
Time out, West.
Pat Riley said before tip-off: "I'm here to win."
The legendary Los Angeles Lakers coach drew up multiple options but it was one of the last, Rolando Blackman, who got the the ball on the left side. He drove hard to the rim and was fouled by Isiah Thomas. Cue the trash talk, including Magic bumping Isiah away from Blackman at the free throw line.
Blackman hit the first before yelling "Confidence, confidence, baby. CONFIDENCE" as the second splashed through the net to send the game into overtime.
The West went into the OT with all the momentum, outscoring the East 14-9 to win the game 154-149.
Tom Chambers, a late call-up for the injured Rocket Ralph Sampson, was the MVP with 34 points, four rebounds and four steals.
Today's nonsense
Compare the '87 showcase to today's nonsense of a ball game and it's clear — the mentality of the modern day player has changed drastically in the past 30+ years. For basketball purests, it's impossible to put any other All-Star Game, and potentially any other game, above the 1987 Classic, and it's not even close.
Don't believe me? Watch the whole game for yourself. You won't regret and by the end, you'll agree: It's greatest All-Star Game ever played.
About the Author
Peter Brown is the head coach of the Sydney Comets Women’s Youth League team in the Waratah Basketball League in NSW. He is also the assistant coach for the Comets NBL1 women’s team in the NBL East Conference. Peter is a 30-year journalist, starting as a sports reporter at the NT News in the early 1990s. He played junior basketball for the Northern Territory at national championships from U16 to U20 and for the Territory’s senior men’s team at numerous international tournaments. Peter has been a basketball fan since the early 80s, especially the NBA. Basketball is his passion — and his opinions his own. Email peter.brown@basketball.com.au with feedback. Any email feedback on articles sent to Peter can be published on basketball.com.au for others to read.
