Topic summary
1972 NBA All-Star Game
The 22nd Annual NBA All-Star Game was an exhibitionbasketball played on January 18, 1972, at The Forum in Inglewood, California, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers. This was the second All-Star Game to be held in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and to be hosted by the Lakers, after it was held in 1963 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the Lakers' previous home arena.
The West All-Stars defeated the East All-Stars 112–110, with Jerry West of the Lakers winning the Most Valuable Player award after he scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. West also hit a last-second 20-foot (6.1 m) jump shot to break the tie and win the game for the team.
Dave Cowens, a future MVP and Hall of Famer, made his All-Star debut in this game. Center Bob Lanier, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, made his debut in this All-Star Game as well. The Houston Rockets, which relocated from San Diego to Houston before the 1971–72 season, had their first Houston-era All-Star in Elvin Hayes.