The 2003 NBA All-Star Game was a memorable game for a few reasons. For one, this was the final All-Star Game for the greatest player to ever play, Michael Jordan.
Not only was this Jordan’s last All-Star Game, but it is arguably the best game played in All-Star history. There were plenty of incredible moments, followed by some drama, and Mariah Carey sang a tribute to Jordan while wearing a Wizards’ Jordan dress.
Yes, the game was set up to honor the NBA’s G.OA.T.’s last All-Star Game, but there was one small problem…
Vince Carter Honors The G.O.A.T.
For the first time in his career, Michael Jordan was not voted as a starter in an All-Star Game by the fans… crazy, I know. The player who took his spot was Vince Carter.
Some people were saying Carter should honor Jordan by giving up his starting spot for Jordan, but Carter didn’t want to disappoint his fans. Jordan agreed with Carter. He wanted Carter to honor the fans, and he was perfectly fine with coming off the bench.
But just as the starters for the Eastern Conference All-Stars were being announced, Carter informed Jordan and the PA announcer that Jordan would be taking his spot.
When Jordan played in his previous “final All-Star Game” back in 1998 in Madison Square Garden, Jordan did what was expected of him. He won the MVP. Jordan scored his number, which was 23, and he led the East to a 135-114 victory. He also dueled with first-time All-Star, the late great Kobe Bryant.
Fast-forward to the 2003 All-Star Game, Jordan was back, and he had already played in an All-Star Game the year before, but the outcome wasn’t pretty.
Jordan only scored 8 points on 4-13 shooting, and he missed a wide-open dunk. His “Air Apparent,” Kobe Bryant, scored 31 to lead the West to a 135-120 victory. Kobe was named MVP.
So, how would Jordan’s true final All-Star Game go?
Jordan’s Slow Start To The 2003 NBA All-Star Game
Jordan struggled right out of the gate. He missed his first seven shots, and a repeat of last year’s All-Star Game seemed evident.
Then, Jordan hit his first shot, a layup on a fast break. Jordan would finally break out of his slump, giving the fans what they wanted.
At one point in the game, Jordan and Kobe went at each other, as they did in the 1998 All-Star Game. In that game, Jordan got the best of Kobe.
In the 2003 All-Star Game, Kobe would wind up blocking one of Jordan’s shots back into his hands.
This led to an iconic photo of the two, as well as some intriguing dialogue between them.
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“You only got three [rings] now, Jordan explained. “I got six. I would get that foul. You only got three now!”
Kobe laughed and responded by saying: “You right, I can’t say nothing to that.”
This interaction showed the bond these two great players had with each other. Like Kobe and Jordan have said plenty of times, they had a big brother, little brother type of relationship.
What does a little brother always want to do to his big brother? Outshine him.
A Jordan Game-Winner?
At the end of the game, with the score tied, Jordan found the ball in his hands. Fans have seen Jordan hit game-winner after game-winner, so this would be the same. Right?
Wrong. Jordan missed the game-winner as time expired. But at the end of overtime, Jordan found the ball in his hands once more, with another chance to win the game.
Jordan gave the fans a retro moment when he hit an incredible fadeaway over the outstretched hands of the taller Shawn Marion. The ball swished through the net. The crowd went wild, and Allen Iverson chest-bumped Jordan.
This appeared to be the perfect All-Star ending for the greatest All-Star of all time, Michael Jordan. But remember, Jordan’s “little brother” was looking to outshine him.
After a timeout, Kobe scrambled after a loose ball, picked it up in the corner for three, and fired up a shot. Here’s where one of the biggest breakdowns in All-Star Game history occurred.
Jermaine O’Neal bum-rushed Kobe and, for some reason, fouled him with one second remaining. So, Kobe Bryant stepped to the foul line with three free throws to win the game.
Jordan chatted in Kobe’s ear, trying to mess with his psyche, and it appeared to work. After making the first free throw, Kobe’s second attempt missed.
Now, the best Kobe could do was to tie the game and potentially send the game to a second overtime. Kobe would make his third free throw, and Jordan’s last attempt would be blocked by Marion.
The West would take over in the second overtime, led by Kevin Garnett, who would win the game’s MVP, and the West won the game 155-145.
Jordan finished the game with 20 points on 9-27 shooting. Jordan ended up surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points in All-Star Game history during the game. This record would later be broken by LeBron James.
So, thanks to a terrible foul and a Kobe Bryant free throw, Jordan’s potential legendary game-winner in his final All-Star Game was erased.
As fans, this was terrible to see. But for Jordan, he loved how his opponents were trying hard against him rather than bowing out just to let him dominate.
No matter what happened at the end, the game was great, and Jordan still left fans with an incredible moment, showcasing why he is the greatest.
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