All-Star Game in Dallas promises to be biggest ever

They say everything is bigger in Texas and the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas promises be that and more. The 59th All-Star Game will be played on Feb. 14 at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington and will feature a crowd that could break the all-time NBA attendance record..

"Well, we want to push the magical number and we think we have an opportunity here," said Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys.

The old All-Star record was 44,735 people at the Houston Astrodome in 1989. The largerst ever regular season NBA game was 62,046 at the Georgia Dome in 1998 to see the Atlanta Hawks play Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The 2010 All-Star game should shatter this record with a crowd approaching 80,000.

In a midseason showcase for the NBA, the 2010 All-Star Game will feature 24 of the league's brightest stars. The five starters for the Eastern and Western Conference's teams were selected via fan voting while the All-Star reserves will be named by the coaches.

The 2010 All-Star Game will have a high bar to surpass the excitement of last year's game in Phoenix. Former teammates and rivals Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant shared the game's MVP honors in a 146-119 win for the Western Conference.

With Kobe back as a starter along with NBA stars LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash and others, it's fitting that the league will be playing this year's All-Star Game at the world's largest domed stadium.

Cowboys Stadium made headlines in 2009, breaking the NFL attendance record with 105,121 people witnessing the inaugural regular-season game. Featuring the two largest high-definition screens in the world (running 160-by-72-feet), Cowboys Stadium promises to be a one-of-kind location for the NBA's All-Star Game.

What: 2010 NBA All-Star Game
When: Feb. 14, 2010, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Artlington, Texas
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT

The game is played under normal NBA rules.

2009 (Phoenix): Back together, Shaq and Kobe share MVP honors
Teammates for three championships with the Lakers at the beginning of the decade, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal teamed up once more to lead the Western Conference over the East 146-119. Bryant led all scorers with 27 points while Shaq added 17.

2008 (New Orleans): LeBron's MVP performance leads East to win
LeBron James earned MVP honors and nearly missed a triple double (27 points, eight rebounds, nine assists) as the Eastern Conferene downed the West 134-128.

2007 Game (Las Vegas): Kobe's 31 points gives West victory in Vegas
Kobe Bryant lit up the Las Vegas strip with 31 points to earn the MVP as the West romped past the East 153-132 at the first-ever All-Star game held outside an NBA city.

2006 Game (Houston): East stages late rally for comeback win over West
LeBron James fueled a second-half comeback and made the key defensive play as the East overcame a 21-point second half deficit to win the All-Star Game. James was named MVP with 29 points.

• More All-Star History >>

• Results & MVP Winners >>