The NBA staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. From that year on, the game has matched the best players in the East against the best in the West.

The All-Star Game is the main, culminating event of "All-Star Weekend", held on Sunday evening. In recent years, the All-Star Game has expanded to include musical performances by major stars such as Elton John, Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, OutKast and others...

Other major events include Friday Night's Rookie Challenge and Saturday Night's Slam Dunk Contest, Three Point Contest, and new Skills Challenge event (started in 2003) - which pits the league's top point guards in an obstacle course of dribbling, shooting and passing.

Additionally, the NBA Jam Session, a "theme-park" of basketball has been a part of the All-Star festivities since 1992...with fans able to take part in numerous interactive basketball related activities from Thursday thru Monday.