The Eastern Conference All-Stars came back from a 21 point deficit to upset the Western Conference All-Stars 111-110 in the 2001 NBA All-Star Game. The East was led by Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, who scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to win the game MVP award. The West was led by Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who scored 19 points. The exciting all-star game will help erase memories of the disastrous slam dunk contest from the night before.

Notes from the All-Star Game
- This was the best NBA All-Star game I have ever seen. It actually played out like a real game as showboating was kept to a minimum and defensive intensity was unusually high, especially in the final minutes. Perhaps this was due to the fact that many players were out to prove themselves. This All-Star game was just what the NBA needed in the face of all the negative publicity the league has received this season. The NBA needed this great All-Star game as much as the US economy needed the Fed's interest rate cuts. Did NBA Commissioner David Stern orchestrate this very unusually exciting All-Star as much as Alan Greenspan orchestrated the Fed's easing?
- P.J. Carlesimo correctly noted that the tone for the game was set in the first quarter when Tracy McGrady rejected Kobe Bryant's turnaround fadeaway jumper. Antonio Davis' hustle also added to the seriousness of the game.
- Stephon Marbury, who looked as happy to be a part of the game as anyone, matched Bryant shot for shot down the stretch in a very exciting duel.
- It is quite stunning that the West, which featured the finest combination of size and skill I have ever seen on one court (Duncan, Garnett, Webber), could actually lose to the much smaller East. Don't be surprised if we enter another golden era very soon as the talent level in the league is very high right now. Players like Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury have the talent to become all-time greats.
- It says a lot that Kobe Bryant was the go-to-guy for the West down the stretch.

Notes from the Slam Dunk Contest and Shootout
- Don't consider it a coincidence that two international players, Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic were in the finals of the three-point shootout.
- Shootout champion Ray Allen continues to cement his reputation as one of the finest pure shooters in the game. Kids everywhere should study his shooting form.
- Baron Davis disappointed me by not winning the Slam Dunk Contest. His blind dunk fiasco cost him the championship that was there for the taking.
- Desmond Mason may have won the dunk contest, but I can't remember one single dunk he threw down. The 2001 NBA Slam Dunk Contest will go down as the worst ever in NBA history.
- Corey Maggette showed spectacular athletic ability in performing a forward flip before his first dunk, but then totally blew it by boneheadedly following that dunk with two extremely pedestrian jams.