The 2016 NBA All-Star game starters will be announced soon, so it’s a good opportunity to go over the players who have been selected, by the fans or coaches, more than anyone else. On the prestigious list: Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan, although they’re not alone.
Michael Jordan, 14 times
Jordan was selected to the All-Star game in every season he was available for playing. But he played in the NBA for 15 seasons, right? Well, the 1994-1995 season was his return from retirement campaign, beginning after the All-Star break. Of his 14 selections, he only missed the 1986 game because of his broken leg. He won the All-Star MVP three times: 1988, 1996, 1998. He scored 40 points in the 1988 game, and also had a triple double in the 1997 All-Star game.
Karl Malone, 14 times
Malone played in the NBA for 19 seasons, all but one with the Utah Jazz. He made his first All-Star game in 1988 and from then until 2002, except for the 1999 shortened season, he was selected every time, although he did miss out on the 1990 and 2002 games. He’s a two-time MVP of the contest (1989, 1993), scoring 28 points, his All-Star game best, in both games.
Jerry West, 14 times
West played in the NBA for 14 seasons and was selected to the All-Star game every time, although he did miss them in 1969 and 1974. The Lakers legend was the MVP of the 1972 game although he had more impressive scoring performances on the exhibition night, with his best being 22 points in 1970.
Tim Duncan, 15 times
A 15-time All-Star and into his 19th season, Duncan never had a reason to miss one of the games he’s been selected to, making his first one in 1998, and then making every one from 2000 to 2011, although in 1999 the league didn’t hold one due to the lockout. Then in 2013, and again in 2015. He won the MVP once, in 2000, with a 24 points, 14 rebounds performance.
Kevin Garnett, 15 times
Garnett hasn’t been to the All-Star game since 2013 and into his 20th NBA season, he knows there isn’t another one coming. From his 15 selections, he missed the 2008 game. He won the MVP of the All-Star game in 2003 with a 37-point performance. He scored more than 14 points in the game just once more on his other 14 appearances.
Shaquille O’Neal, 15 times
O’Neal made every All-Star game from 1993-2007 and then another one in 2009, but didn’t play in 1997, 2001 and 2002 due to injuries. He’s a three-time MVP: In 2000 (22 points), 2004 (24 points) and 2009 (17 points).
Kobe Bryant, 17 times
Bryant was selected to his first All-Star game in 1998, and has been selected to every one of them ever since, making his rookie year the only season in which he was left out. He is a four-time MVP of the event: In 2002 with a 31-point performance, in 2007 with 31 points, in 2009 with 27 points and in 2011 with 37 points. He didn’t play in 2010, 2014 and 2015 due to injuries.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 19 times
Abdul-Jabbar played in the NBA for 20 seasons. The only time he didn’t get into the All-Star game was 1978, and he also missed the 1973 game. Maybe the most accomplished player in the history of the game, he actually never won the All-Star MVP, with his best coming on a 25-point performance in 1984.