1970 NBA All-Star recap

EAST 142, WEST 135, at The Spectrum (Philadelphia)

ATTENDANCE: 15,244

MVP: Willis Reed

Box score

In the 1969-70 season, the New York Knicks ran roughshod over the league en route to winning The Finals. It’s no surprise, then, that the Knicks’ heroes from that season delivered at Philadelphia’s Spectrum in the All-Star Game.

In one of his final All-Star appearances, Willis Reed claimed MVP honors on the heels of a 21-point, 11-rebound performance as the East won 142-135. His fellow Knicks teammates Walt Frazier and Dave DeBusschere also made an impact on the game, though not as deep as Reed’s. Frazier finished with seven points in 24 minutes while DeBusschere was efficient in his 14 minutes, scoring 10 points and pulling down seven rebounds.

Aside from those Knicks heroics, the 1970 All-Star Game had some notable events associated with it. Future Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (East) and Connie Hawkins (West) made their All-Star debuts. Abdul-Jabbar had 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench while Hawkins had 10 points and four rebounds as a West starting forward. Hawkins, who played two seasons in the ABA before signing with the Suns in 1969, became the first player to play in both the ABA and NBA All-Star Games.

The game also marked the first of two games in which the Van Arsdale twins would appear together. Dick Van Arsdale, a member of the Suns, scored eight points for the West off the bench. His brother, Tom, came off the bench to score five points in 8 minutes for the East. Additionally, the Pistons’ Jimmy Walker made his All-Star debut in this game as a reserve. Walker is the estranged father of Jalen Rose, the 1999 Most Improved Player Award winner.

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All-Star Game rosters

Eastern Conference

Billy Cunningham (Philadelphia 76ers)

John Havlicek (Boston Celtics)

Willis Reed (New York Knicks)

Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals)

Walt Frazier (New York Knicks)

Dave DeBusschere (New York Knicks)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)

Flynn Robinson (Milwaukee Bucks)

Gus Johnson (Baltimore Bullets)

Hal Greer (Philadelphia 76ers)

Jimmy Walker (Detroit Pistons)

Tom Van Arsdale (Cincinnati Royals)

Coach: Red Holzman (New York Knicks)

Western Conference

Jerry West (L.A. Lakers)

Lou Hudson (Atlanta Hawks)

Elvin Hayes (San Diego Rockets)

Connie Hawkins (Phoenix Suns)

Elgin Baylor (L.A. Lakers)

Joe Caldwell (Atlanta Hawks)

Bill Bridges (Atlanta Hawks)

Jeff Mullins (San Francisco Warriors)

Lenny Wilkens (Seattle SuperSonics)

Bob Rule (Seattle SuperSonics) **

Chet Walker (Chicago Bulls)

Dick Van Arsdale (Phoenix Suns)

Nate Thurmond (San Francisco Warriors) *

Coach: Richie Guerin (Hawks)

NOTE: * = missed game due to injury; ** = injury replacement