The 69e All-Star Game was won Sunday February 16 in Chicago by the team of LeBron James (157-155) at the end of a breathtaking end of the match, with an unusual intensity, a beautiful tribute to Kobe Bryant, whose shadow hovered over this gala weekend.
To celebrate the memory of the legendary Lakers player, who died tragically on January 26, the NBA had made several changes, including a new match format. Convoluted in appearance, with a score to reach at the end of the meeting, this formula was ultimately the key to the success of this edition.
Because, after the first two one-way quarters, one for the LeBron James team (53-41) – Team LeBron -, and the other for that of Giannis Antetokounmpo (51-30), – the Team Giannis -, the meeting has changed its face. As the outcome approached, the two selections moved away from the canons of a classic All-Star Game, usually dedicated entirely to the attack, sometimes to the point of disgust.
After a third quarter tied (41-41), the last period resulted in very rare scenes in a gala match. Against, strong passages, faults, messes thrown, passionate disputes with the referees, neither of the two selections of All-Star, the best players in the professional league of North American basketball, wanted to yield.
Kawhi Leonard voted best player of the match
At stake, the victory, but also the tribute to Kobe Bryant, as well as a $ 300,000 envelope donated by the NBA to the charity chosen by the winning team. Despite a 9-point advantage at the start of the fourth quarter, Team Giannis was caught and then overtaken by Team LeBron, very concerned in defense. LeBron James, James Harden and Anthony Davis went for the victory points, definitely won on a last Davis throw.
Author of 30 points in just 20 minutes, Los Angeles winger Clippers Kawhi Leonard (Team LeBron) received the Best Player of the Match award, which is now known as Kobe Bryant.
This award could have gone to French Rudy Gobert (Team Giannis), who was one of the four players competing for the vote of fans and journalists (who elect the best player of the match) a few minutes before the final whistle. Even if his game, very defensive, did not necessarily predispose him to shine, the player of Utah Jazz, which was his first selection, did better than appear in this match of the stars, finishing with 21 points – including 8 dunks – and 11 rebounds.
Gobert could have done better if he had not been kept on the bench during the last quarter, dedicated to the starters.
