Changing of the Guard

For the first time since 1996 - back when I was still in high school - the NBA All Star Game will not feature Tim Duncan (13 straight all star games) or Kevin Garnett (14 straight all star games). Back then the Rockets were the defending NBA Champions, the Wizards were still the Bullets, the Sonics hadn't left Seattle, the Hornets still played in Charlotte, Michael Jordan was in his first full season post-retirement, Jason Kidd was on the Mavericks (oh wait, he's on the Mavericks now...), Lil Penny was still a thing and Grant Hill drank sprite.



Just for kicks, let's take a look back at the rosters from that 1996 All Star Game:

Eastern Conference

Grant Hill - Detroit Pistons

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Scottie Pippen - Chicago Bulls

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Shaquille O'Neal - Orlando Magic

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Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls

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Penny Hardaway - Orlando Magic

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Patrick Ewing - New York Knicks

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Reggie Miller - Indiana Pacers

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Vin Baker - Milwaukee Bucks

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Terrell Brandon - Cleveland Cavaliers

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Glen Rice - Charlotte Hornets

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Juwan Howard - Washington Bullets

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Alonzo Mourning - Miami Heat

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Western Conference

Charles Barkley - Phoenix Suns

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Shawn Kemp - Seattle Supersonics

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Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets

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Clyde Drexler - Houston Rockets

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Jason Kidd - Dallas Mavericks

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David Robinson - San Antonio Spurs

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Gary Payton - Seattle Supersonics

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Sean Elliott - San Antonio Spurs

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Karl Malone - Utah Jazz

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Mitch Richmond - Sacramento Kings

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Dikembe Mutombo - Denver Nuggets

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John Stockton - Utah Jazz

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The East won the game 129-118 led by 25 points from Shaquille O'Neal and 20 from MVP Michael Jordan. Of the 24 players who played in the game, only 3 - Grant Hill (Suns), Jason Kidd (Mavericks) and Juwan Howard (Heat) - are still active in the NBA.