CLEVELAND (AP) — One by one the names of the NBA’s greatest players were called, bridging basketball’s past and present.
And as each walked onto the floor, LeBron James found himself in further disbelief.
The posters on his bedroom wall as a kid came to life.
“Allen Iverson and Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson,” James said, still trying to grasp the experience. “To see those guys today and then be on stage with those guys — it’s just crazy.”
On Sunday night, the league celebrated its diamond anniversary with a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the hardwood floor.
During a moving halftime tribute at Sunday’s All-Star Game, 45 members of the 75th Anniversary Team — including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James — stood elbow to elbow on a giant circular stage in the middle of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
This was a chance for the game’s greatest to take a bow and be saluted for cutting the path for today’s players.
For James, who made a fadeaway jumper — the kind Jordan made famous — to send Team LeBron to a 163-160 win over Team Durant, the chance to be around players he idolized, was overwhelming.
“Every time they would announce another name, I didn’t even get an opportunity to like rejoice in the player that they had named,” he said. “It was, like, Gary Payton. I was, like, wow.! Then J Kidd showed up, and then A.I. (Allen Iverson) showed up, and then it was D. Wade, C.P. (Chris Paul), and Steph (Curry). I was just tripped out.”
James wasn’t the only one.
Each wearing blue blazers with a 75th logo on their chests, the best of the NBA’s best were introduced to huge ovations, with the loudest cheers going to Jordan, the last player to walk onto the raised podium at center court.
The forwards were brought out first with Charles Barkley leading the way. Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of six current All-Stars on the 75th team, changed out of his Team LeBron uniform for the on-court tribute.
During the TV broadcast, Barkley said being amongst the NBA’s elite hit him harder than he expected. Antetokounmpo, one of the two Europeans on the squad, also was awed by being part of the ceremony.
Ron Schwane
75 of the leagues greatest players gather on a stage during halftime at of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
“When you start playing basketball when you are young, you never imagine to be next to all these all-time greats,” said Milwaukee’s star. “Your name being called, going out there to shake their hands and just stand next to them, interact with them, it was amazing.
“I kind of teared up on stage because I’m not supposed to be here, man. Being among those guys is — man, it’s crazy.”
Julius “Dr. J” Erving bowed to the sellout crowd, and the always entertaining Dennis Rodman strutted down the wine-colored carpet wearing a basketball cap and hooded sweatshirt under his jacket.
James was the last of the forward group to be welcomed, and the former Cleveland star spun in a circle to return the love coming from every corner of the arena. This was his homecoming weekend, and it coinciding with the 75th anniversary made it even more special.
Once James took his spot on the star-studded stage, he tried to soak in the moment.
“It would be like going to your favorite musician’s concert in the greatest stadium, and you are literally on stage with them while they’re performing, and the sense of “I can’t believe that I’m here,’” he said. That’s the best way that I can put it.”
“I can’t believe I’m sitting next to Bruce Springsteen while he is playing in a stadium in London with 160,000 people. Or I’m in the Garden with Jay-Z. I’m sitting here with Whitney Houston on stage in a coliseum with 90,000 people.
“That’s kind of what it felt like for me. I just couldn’t believe it.”
When it was the centers’ turn to be welcomed, Shaquille O’Neal stuck out his tongue toward the camera and posed while Abdul-Jabbar, the league’s career scoring leader, mimicked his signature “sky hook” before the 74-year-old took a seat at the stage’s edge.
Iverson, who once scored 54 points in the building, led the guards out and was followed soon after by George “Iceman” Gervin, who made sure the crowd remembered his famed finger roll.
Before Jordan’s entrance, Kobe Bryant’s photo on the giant scoreboard touched off an emotional response and chants of “Ko-be, Ko-be” for the late Lakers superstar who died tragically in a 2020 helicopter crash with his young daughter, Gianna.
Even Curry, who got booed by Cleveland’s crowd before scoring 50 points and winning MVP honors, got a nice hand.
Jordan’s appearance was something of a surprise as the league kept a tight lid on any details of the celebration.
Following the game, James made sure to reconnect with Jordan, who inspired the young kid from Akron to chase greatness.
“The way he wore his shoes, the way he wore his uniform, I mean, all the way down to some of the cars that he drove,” James said.
The still living members of the 75th team who didn’t attend were shown on video, with each saluting the fans with a wave.
This is the second time the league has honored its greats in Cleveland, after the 50th Anniversary Team was honored in 1997.
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NBA honors past, present with 75th tribute at All-Star Game
Adam Hunger
The contenders: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Kevin Durant, Brooklyn; Nikola Jokic, Denver; Stephen Curry, Golden State; DeMar DeRozan, Chicago; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers.
There is still a second half of the season. Right now, anyone from this group of six players — and probably a few other names, too — has a valid case for the award.
Antetokounmpo is on his way to averaging at least 28 points and 11 rebounds for a third consecutive season, something nobody has done since Karl Malone from 1989-92. Jokic’s numbers are just as good, and maybe even a little better, than they were last year when he was the runaway winner. Curry has the Warriors right back in title contention and now he’s got Klay Thompson next to him again. DeRozan has led the Bulls into the role as official NBA surprise of the first half. James is carrying the Lakers out of necessity and somehow isn't losing a step in Year 19. And Durant, well, he’s just unguardable.
The midway pick: Durant. The Nets have had plenty of things not going according to plan, yet they’re still near the top of the East because quite simply Durant is just that good.
Adam Hunger
The contenders: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Kevin Durant, Brooklyn; Nikola Jokic, Denver; Stephen Curry, Golden State; DeMar DeRozan, Chicago; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers.
There is still a second half of the season. Right now, anyone from this group of six players — and probably a few other names, too — has a valid case for the award.
Antetokounmpo is on his way to averaging at least 28 points and 11 rebounds for a third consecutive season, something nobody has done since Karl Malone from 1989-92. Jokic’s numbers are just as good, and maybe even a little better, than they were last year when he was the runaway winner. Curry has the Warriors right back in title contention and now he’s got Klay Thompson next to him again. DeRozan has led the Bulls into the role as official NBA surprise of the first half. James is carrying the Lakers out of necessity and somehow isn't losing a step in Year 19. And Durant, well, he’s just unguardable.
The midway pick: Durant. The Nets have had plenty of things not going according to plan, yet they’re still near the top of the East because quite simply Durant is just that good.
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NBA honors past, present with 75th tribute at All-Star Game
Jeff Chiu
The contenders: Draymond Green, Golden State; Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Rudy Gobert, Utah; Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee; Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia.
Gobert, Antetokounmpo and Green have combined to win the last five awards. And it’s deserved, though it’s not uncommon for NBA players to question the methodology voters have when picking the award. (Note: it should be about more than steals and blocks stats.)
The midway pick: Green. Everyone talks about Golden State’s offense and Curry’s shooting, and rightly so. The Warriors are a nightmare because of the way they defend, and Green is the leader.
Jeff Chiu
The contenders: Draymond Green, Golden State; Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Rudy Gobert, Utah; Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee; Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia.
Gobert, Antetokounmpo and Green have combined to win the last five awards. And it’s deserved, though it’s not uncommon for NBA players to question the methodology voters have when picking the award. (Note: it should be about more than steals and blocks stats.)
The midway pick: Green. Everyone talks about Golden State’s offense and Curry’s shooting, and rightly so. The Warriors are a nightmare because of the way they defend, and Green is the leader.
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NBA honors past, present with 75th tribute at All-Star Game
Darryl Webb
The contenders: Tyler Herro, Miami; Carmelo Anthony, Los Angeles Lakers; Kelly Oubre Jr., Charlotte; Buddy Hield, Sacramento; Jordan Clarkson, Utah.
It’s a pretty simple rule. If a team has someone have a big game off the bench, that team usually wins; the teams with a reserve that scores 25 points have won about 70% of their games this season. And Herro — who would probably be a frontrunner for Most Improved Player right now, too — has 11 games of 25 or more points off the Heat bench this season.
The midway pick: Herro. In a runaway.
Darryl Webb
The contenders: Tyler Herro, Miami; Carmelo Anthony, Los Angeles Lakers; Kelly Oubre Jr., Charlotte; Buddy Hield, Sacramento; Jordan Clarkson, Utah.
It’s a pretty simple rule. If a team has someone have a big game off the bench, that team usually wins; the teams with a reserve that scores 25 points have won about 70% of their games this season. And Herro — who would probably be a frontrunner for Most Improved Player right now, too — has 11 games of 25 or more points off the Heat bench this season.
The midway pick: Herro. In a runaway.
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NBA honors past, present with 75th tribute at All-Star Game
Marta Lavandier
The contenders: Billy Donovan, Chicago; J.B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland; Taylor Jenkins, Memphis; Erik Spoelstra, Miami; Steve Kerr, Golden State.
Spoelstra hasn’t won this award but this season might be his best coaching job to date. The Heat are a true contender, have played well over half their games to date on the road, and haven’t had Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler very often. Kerr’s brilliance, if anyone forgot it exists, has been on full display this season. But the biggest surprises in the NBA to date might be the Cavaliers, Bulls and Grizzlies. It’ll be tough, though not impossible, for Cleveland to keep this going because of injuries, but the Bulls and Grizzlies look very much for real.
The midway pick: Donovan, in a very close call over Jenkins. Nobody thought the Bulls would be atop the East at this point. Chicago just keeps rolling with punches, and Donovan is the calm in the eye of the storm.
Marta Lavandier
The contenders: Billy Donovan, Chicago; J.B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland; Taylor Jenkins, Memphis; Erik Spoelstra, Miami; Steve Kerr, Golden State.
Spoelstra hasn’t won this award but this season might be his best coaching job to date. The Heat are a true contender, have played well over half their games to date on the road, and haven’t had Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler very often. Kerr’s brilliance, if anyone forgot it exists, has been on full display this season. But the biggest surprises in the NBA to date might be the Cavaliers, Bulls and Grizzlies. It’ll be tough, though not impossible, for Cleveland to keep this going because of injuries, but the Bulls and Grizzlies look very much for real.
The midway pick: Donovan, in a very close call over Jenkins. Nobody thought the Bulls would be atop the East at this point. Chicago just keeps rolling with punches, and Donovan is the calm in the eye of the storm.
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NBA honors past, present with 75th tribute at All-Star Game
Nick Wass
The contenders: Cade Cunningham, Detroit; Jalen Green, Houston; Franz Wagner, Orlando; Evan Mobley, Cleveland; Scottie Barnes, Toronto.
These are the top five rookie scorers, but that’s not entirely why they are the five to make this list. Cunningham is finding his groove, Green has been explosive and Wagner might be way ahead of whatever schedule the Magic envisioned for his development. What sets two of these guys apart, however, is how they have impacted winning. Barnes is in a tremendous spot, learning from winners in Toronto. Mobley, however, went to a place where little was expected and has excelled.
The midway pick: Mobley, who is only going to get better.
Nick Wass
The contenders: Cade Cunningham, Detroit; Jalen Green, Houston; Franz Wagner, Orlando; Evan Mobley, Cleveland; Scottie Barnes, Toronto.
These are the top five rookie scorers, but that’s not entirely why they are the five to make this list. Cunningham is finding his groove, Green has been explosive and Wagner might be way ahead of whatever schedule the Magic envisioned for his development. What sets two of these guys apart, however, is how they have impacted winning. Barnes is in a tremendous spot, learning from winners in Toronto. Mobley, however, went to a place where little was expected and has excelled.
The midway pick: Mobley, who is only going to get better.
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NBA honors past, present with 75th tribute at All-Star Game
Ron Schwane
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, and former NBA great Michale Jordan greet each other during the introduction of 75 of the leagues greatest player during halftime at the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Ron Schwane
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, and former NBA great Michale Jordan greet each other during the introduction of 75 of the leagues greatest player during halftime at the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
