History

2000 NBA All-Star recap

Co-MVPs Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal power the West to a victory over the East.

From NBA.com Staff

September 13, 2021 1:25 PM

WEST 137, EAST 126, at Oakland Arena (Oakland, Calif.)

ATTENDANCE: 18,325

MVP: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) and Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)

By the time the 2000 All-Star Game rolled around, the NBA debate was still raging … who’s better: Shaquille O’Neal or Tim Duncan? Both players had solid resumes entering the game. Duncan, for example, had just won his first title in the 1999 Finals and had the Spurs positioned as annual contenders. O’Neal was in the midst of his MVP season in 1999-2000, which would culminate in his first title with the Lakers. So it was only fitting that the two big men settled the debate by sharing MVP honors in the West’s 137-126 victory.

Duncan had 24 points, 14 rebounds and shot 12-for-14 while O’Neal had 22 points, nine rebounds and a memorable 360-degree breakaway slam. This was the third time in All-Star Game history that the MVP honors were split, joining the 1993 game (John Stockton and Karl Malone) and the 1959 game (Elgin Baylor and Bob Pettit) on the list. The West benefitted from its better passers, notching 42 assists to the East’s 30 thanks to 14 assists from Jason Kidd.

Stockton, a 10-time All-Star, made his final All-Star appearance in this game, scoring 10 points off the bench. Reggie Miller, who would eventually retire as the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made, played in his final All-Star Game, too. He had five points off the bench on a very un-Miller-like 1-for-7 shooting night.

Allen Iverson, a future MVP of the NBA and the All-Star Game, made his All-Star Game debut. A starter for the East, he finished with 26 points and nine assists. The Bucks’ Ray Allen, the man who would break Miller’s 3-point mark in the 2010-11 season, made his All-Star debut as a reserve for the East. He was 4-for-13 for 14 points in 17 minutes.

For the second straight time at the 3-Point Shootout, Utah’s Jeff Hornacek reigned supreme. At the time, he was the fourth player — joining Larry Bird, Craig Hodges and Mark Price — to win at least two consecutive 3-Point Shootouts. With a forearm-through-the-rim slam at the Dunk Contest, Vince Carter wrapped up the championship in that event. And at the Rookie Challenge, Bulls rookie Elton Brand bullied his way to 16 points, 21 rebounds and game MVP honors in the Rookies’ 92-83 overtime win against the Sophomores.