1953 NBA All-Star recap
WEST 79, EAST 75, at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
ATTENDANCE: 10,322
MVP: George Mikan, Minneapolis Lakers
Box score
For the first time in NBA history, the All-Star Game switched venues and the change in locale wasn’t the only difference.
At the the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the West nabbed its first win in the All-Star Game, topping the East, 79-75.
George Mikan, a dominant big man in the NBA’s early days, finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds as he won his lone All-Star Game MVP award.
While neither team shot particularly well (35.4% for the West; 37.9% for the East) and the East had more balanced scoring (four players in double-figures), the game was a back-and-forth affair.
All-Star Game rosters
Eastern Conference
Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics)
Ed Macauley (Boston Celtics)
Bill Sharman (Boston Celtics)
Dolph Schayes (Syracuse Nationals)
Harry Gallatin (New York Knicks)
Neil Johnson (Philadelphia Warriors)
Bill Gabor (Syracuse Nationals)
Carl Braun (New York Knicks)
Paul Seymour (Syracuse Nationals)
Don Barksdale (Boston Celtics)
Fred Scolari (Baltimore Bullets)*
Coach: Joe Lapchick (Knicks)
Western Conference
George Mikan (Minneapolis Lakers)
Andy Phillip (Ft. Worth Pistons)
Mel Hutchins (Milwaukee Hawks)
Bobby Wanzer (Rochester Royals)
Vern Mikkelsen (Minneapolis Lakers)
Slater Martin (Minneapolis Lakers)
Arnie Risen (Rochester Royals)
Larry Foust (Ft. Wayne Pistons)
Bob Davies (Rochester Royals)
Leo Barnhorst (Indianapolis Olympians)
Coach: John Kundla (Lakers)
NOTE: * = missed game due to injury; ** = injury replacement
