The 2006 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played on Sunday, February 19, 2006, at the Toyota Center in Houston, home of the Houston Rockets. The game was the 55th annual All-Star game. This was the third time that Houston had hosted the All-Star Game; the city had previously hosted the event in 1989 at the Astrodome. It was also the third All-Star Game to be hosted by the Rockets franchise, with the first in 1971, when they were known as the San Diego Rockets.
The theme song was by Houston native Chamillionaire who made a new version of his hit "Turn It Up." Trailing by 21 points, the East rode the hot shooting of LeBron James and the teamwork of the four All-Stars from the Detroit Pistons to a 122–120 victory over the West. The 21-year-old James, who scored 29 points and grabbed six rebounds, became the youngest player to win MVP. With the score tied, Dwyane Wade, who finished with 20 points, hit the game-winning layup with 16 seconds left. Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets led all players with a game-high 36 points.
Players
+Eastern Conference All-Stars Pos. Player Team # of Selections Starters GAllen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers 7th GDwyane Wade Miami Heat 2nd FLeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 2nd FJermaine O'Neal Indiana Pacers 5th CShaquille O'Neal Miami Heat 13th Reserves GGilbert Arenas Washington Wizards 2nd GChauncey Billups Detroit Pistons 1st GVince Carter New Jersey Nets 7th GRichard Hamilton Detroit Pistons 1st FChris Bosh Toronto Raptors 1st FPaul Pierce Boston Celtics 5th FRasheed Wallace Detroit Pistons 3rd CBen Wallace Detroit Pistons 4th
+Western Conference All-Stars Pos. Player Team # of Selections Starters GSteve Nash Phoenix Suns 4th GKobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers 8th FTracy McGrady Houston Rockets 6th FTim Duncan San Antonio Spurs 8th CYao Ming Houston Rockets 4th Reserves GRay Allen Seattle SuperSonics 6th GTony Parker San Antonio Spurs 1st FElton Brand Los Angeles Clippers 2nd FKevin Garnett Minnesota Timberwolves 9th CPau Gasol Memphis Grizzlies 1st FShawn Marion Phoenix Suns 3rd FDirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks 5th Jermaine O'Neal was unable to participate due to injury. Gilbert Arenas was named as O'Neal's replacement. Vince Carter was named as starter, replacing O'Neal.
Coaches The Eastern Conference team was coached by Flip Saunders of the East leader Detroit Pistons, along with Sidney Lowe, Ron Harper and Don Zierden as assistant coaches. Ted Arzonico of the Orlando Magic was the athletic trainer.
The Western Conference team was coached by Avery Johnson of the West leader Dallas Mavericks. Del Harris, Rolando Blackman and Joe Prunty served as assistant coaches, while Keith Jones of the Houston Rockets was the athletic trainer. Although the San Antonio Spurs have also overtook Dallas for the best record in the West several times before the game, their head coach, Gregg Popovich, was ineligible to coach in the All-Star Game because he had coached in the 2005 game and league rules prohibit a coach from coaching in consecutive All-Star Games.
Rookie Challenge The T-Mobile Rookie challenge was played on Friday, February 17, 2006, with the Sophomores beating the Rookies 106–96. Andre Iguodala was named MVP with a game-high 30 points.
+Rookies Pos. Player Team PF/CAndrew Bogut Milwaukee Bucks SGLuther Head Houston Rockets PF/CChanning Frye New York Knicks SFDanny Granger Indiana Pacers PGŠarūnas Jasikevičius Indiana Pacers PGChris Paul New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets PGNate Robinson New York Knicks SFCharlie Villanueva Toronto Raptors PGDeron Williams Utah Jazz
+Sophomores Pos. Player Team SF/SGLuol Deng Chicago Bulls PGT. J. Ford Milwaukee Bucks SGBen Gordon Chicago Bulls PGDevin Harris Dallas Mavericks PF/CDwight Howard Orlando Magic SGAndre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers CNenad Krstić New Jersey Nets PGJameer Nelson* Orlando Magic SFAndrés Nocioni Chicago Bulls PF/CEmeka Okafor* Charlotte Bobcats PGDelonte West Boston Celtics
* Did not participate due to injury. Delonte West replaced Jameer Nelson (sprained right foot).
Coaches The Rooks were coached by Sidney Lowe of the Detroit Pistons, along with Elvin Hayes as the assistant coach.
The Sophomores were coached by Del Harris of the Dallas Mavericks, along with Moses Malone as the assistant coach.
Three-Point Shootout Dirk Nowitzki won with a score of 18, beating Gilbert Arenas and Ray Allen in the final round.
+Contestants Pos. Player Team SGRay Allen Seattle SuperSonics PGGilbert Arenas Washington Wizards SGRaja Bell* Phoenix Suns PGChauncey Billups Detroit Pistons PFDirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks SF/SGQuentin Richardson New York Knicks PGJason Terry Dallas Mavericks
* Did not participate due to a family illness. Gilbert Arenas replaced Raja Bell.
Slam Dunk Contest Nate Robinson won, beating Andre Iguodala in a dunk-off after the first ever tie in a Slam Dunk Contest. Robinson's win was highly questioned as he had missed several dunks and many speculate that Robinson was only awarded the title because of his small stature.
+Contestants Pos. Player Team Height Weight SGAndre Iguodala Philadelphia 76ers 6'6" 207 lb PGNate Robinson New York Knicks 5'9" 180 lb SFJosh Smith Atlanta Hawks 6'9" 225 lb PFHakim Warrick Memphis Grizzlies 6'9" 219 lb
Skills Challenge Dwyane Wade won, beating LeBron James in the final round. Dwyane Wade won with a time of 26.1 seconds.
+Contestants Pos. Player Team SFLeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers PGSteve Nash Phoenix Suns PGChris Paul New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets SGDwyane Wade Miami Heat
Shooting Stars Competition The San Antonio team won the competition with a time of 25.1 seconds.
+Contestants HoustonTracy McGrady Houston RocketsSheryl Swoopes Houston CometsClyde Drexler Houston Rockets (Retired) Los AngelesKobe Bryant Los Angeles LakersLisa Leslie Los Angeles SparksMagic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers (Retired) PhoenixShawn Marion Phoenix SunsKelly Miller Phoenix MercuryDan Majerle Phoenix Suns (Retired) San AntonioTony Parker San Antonio SpursKendra Wecker San Antonio Silver StarsSteve Kerr San Antonio Spurs (Retired)
References