The greatest NBA All-Star MVP performances in history

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard was the recipient of the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award at the 73rd edition of the game.

According to the NBA website, the eight-time All-Star received his first start in the game last weekend and followed up 39 points in 27 minutes as the East beat the West 186-211.

In 73 editions of the NBA All-Star game, there have been some performances for the ages, proving some players as the star among stars.

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Let's look at the top five greatest NBA All-Star performances in history.

Perhaps the most impactful All-Star performance in history was Magic Johnson's in 1992 after retiring a few months prior due to HIV.

Despite the protests on whether he should have been allowed to play, Johnson played like the old days, scoring 25 points, five rebounds, and nine assists, as reported by the History website.

The man who the All-Star MVP trophy is namde in honour of, Kobe Bryant, was an All-star of All-Stars in the NBA, winning his record-tying fourth All-Star MVP trophy in 2011.

His 2011 game epitomized Kobe Bryant as a player, scoring 37 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists and Steals, helping his West team beat the East, as reported by ESPN.

After winning the three-point contest on Saturday, Damian Lillard kept his hot streak going in the All-Star game, making 11 of 23 three-point attempts (47.8%) and finishing with 39 points, according to the NBA website.

Lillard completed his performance with six assists, three rebounds, one steal and made zero turnovers in the process. Can it spur him on to win his first championship?

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After his legendary dunk contest with Dominique Wilkins at the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest, NBA legend Michael Jordan followed it up, winning the All-Star MVP.

Sports Illustrated reported that in the era when players played to win in the All-Star game, rather than create highlight reel plays, Jordan put up 40 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, leading his East team to victory.

Anthony Davis shattered the previous All-Star scoring record, scoring a record-breaking 52 points on his home court floor at the time.

Davis scored 26 of 39 attempts from the floor, impressively breaking the All-Star record without even making a three-point shot, according to Sports Casting.

The NBA's greatest-ever shooter, Steph Curry, smashed the All-Star game three-point record, making 16 three's in the game and finishing the game with 50 points, according to ESPN.

His shooting clinic earned him the All-Star MVP award and helped inspire his future success, winning the NBA Championship and Finals MVP later in the 2022 season.

The best NBA All-Star performance happened in 2023, as Jayson Tatum scored the record-breaking 55 points, helping end LeBron James' winning streak at the All-Star game, as reported by CBC.

According to the NBA website, as well as the 55 points, Tatum dished out six assists and ten rebounds, earning him the 'Kobe Bryant MVP trophy.'

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