There won’t be any new memories in 2025. So, let’s look back at some of the notable ones from the past.
All-Star weekend has gradually added events over the last seven decades. The All-Star game started in 1951. The Slam Dunk contest was first held in 1976. The three-point contest debuted in in 1986. The Rising Stars Challenge began in 1994 and the first skills challenge took place in 2003. We wanted to highlight some of the most notable moments involving Sixers on All-Star Weekend without any participating this weekend.
Allen Iverson ASG MVP (2001)
In a year that saw the Sixers win just about every award, Iverson’s All-Star game honor was the least important, but perhaps a noteworthy precursor towards his MVP award just a few months later. “The Answer” finished with 25 points on 9-of-21 shooting and 1-of-1 from three-point land while adding five assists and four steals. Back then, the All-Star game final score actually looked like a normal game as the East defeated the West 111-110 on the heels of a huge fourth quarter.
All-Star Weekend in Philly (2002)
It has been 23 years since All-Star Weekend came to the City of Brotherly Love. The most memorable moment from this weekend remains the chorus of boos Kobe Bryant was showered with upon receiving the game’s MVP award. This of course wasn’t without provocation as the Lower Merion graduate made the infamous “I’ll cut their heart out” line during the NBA Finals one year prior. Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo represented the Sixers on the team’s home floor in 2002. Other winners from the weekend included Jason Richardson as both the Rising Stars Challenge MVP and Slam Dunk Contest champion and Peja Stojakovic in the three-point contest.
Iguodala robbed in dunk contest (2006)
Back when the dunk contest mattered, Nate Robinson edged out Andre Iguodala in overtime. Igudoala got a perfect 50 from the five judges on his second dunk. Robinson had become a crowd favorite in this event, most notably because of his smaller stature and one can only wonder if his popularity pushed him over the line. Liberty Ballers chronicled this calamity 10 years ago. The 2006 Slam Dunk Contest was the first to have a “Dunk Off” to determine the winner.
Mac McClung wins dunk contest (2023)
The only thing McClung has on Julius Erving in his basketball career is that McClung won the dunk contest and Erving did not despite participating in 1984 and 1985. McClung would repeat in 2024 but was a member of the Orlando Magic organization by that point. He beat out Trey Murphy III, Jericho Sims and KJ Martin in 2023 to become the first Sixer to win the contest. Other players besides McClung, Iguodala and Erving that participated in the event as Sixers include Shelton Jones, Clarence Weatherspoon, Tim Perry, Jerry Stackhouse and Larry Hughes.
Players to participate in the three-point contest as Sixers are as follows:
Gerald Henderson (1989)
Hersey Hawkins (1991)
Dana Barros (1994 and 1995)
Allen Iverson (2000)
Kyle Korver (2004 and 2005)
No Sixer has ever won the three-point contest.
Players to participate in the skills contest as Sixers are as follows:
Jrue Holiday (2013)
Michael Carter-Williams (2014)**
Joel Embiid (2018)*
Tyrese Maxey (2024)
*Embiid was selected to participate in 2017 as well but missed All-Star Weekend with a knee injury.
**Michael Carter-Williams and Robert Covington were both chosen to participate in the 2015 skills contest but neither did as Carter-Williams was injured and Covington opted out.
Players to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge as Sixers are as follows:
Shawn Bradley (1994)
Sharone Wright (1995)
Jerry Stackhouse (1996)
Allen Iverson (1997)
Tim Thomas (1998)
Todd MacCulloch (2000)
Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver (2005)
Andre Iguodala (2006)
Thaddeus Young (2009)
Jrue Holiday (2011)
Evan Turner (2012)
Michael Carter-Williams (2014 and 2015)
Nerlens Noel and Robert Covington (2015)
Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor (2016)
Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and Jahlil Okafor (2017)
Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric (2018)
Ben Simmons (2019)
Tyrese Maxey (2022)
Mac McClung (2023)*
Jared McCain (2025)**
*G-League roster invitee
**Selected to play in game but could not participate due to meniscus injury