"This year's All-Star Game is really packed with gunpowder!" Barkley sighed. Even in the brutal, dark eras of the 1970s and 1980s, the NBA All-Star Game had primarily been a showcase for entertainment.
But after Jordan and Kobe entered the league, the nature of this game had changed.
For the fans, that was undoubtedly a stroke of luck.
On one end, Shaquille O'Neal bulldozed through Ben Wallace for a tough basket.
On the other, Allen Iverson came up with a steal and streaked down the court like lightning for a coast-to-coast finish.
Dirk Nowitzki hit a one-legged fadeaway!
McGrady pulled up for a jumper!
The stars were all fired up! Their signature moves came one after another!
"This year's All-Star MVP will probably be decided among Iverson, O'Neal, and Kobe," Kenny Smith said.
The game had reached the third quarter, with the Western Conference leading the Eastern Conference 96-91.
The score was tight! The lead kept changing hands!
The lead alone had switched seven times in this game!
There was always someone stepping up, and there was always someone answering back.
These emperor-tier superstars had all developed some real fire, going at each other with no quarter given!
Iverson had put up 27 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, leading all players.
And with this being his home court in Philadelphia, as long as they won the game, the MVP would surely be his.
Kobe had racked up 21 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks, and just 1 turnover, stuffing the stat sheet to the brim!
O'Neal had 23 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers, dominating the paint like a god descending from heaven. Even Jermaine O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, and the others together were no match for him!
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