2016 NBA All-Star Weekend did not have a ton of hype around it outside of the final All-Star stand for Kobe Bryant but it eventually became an event that became all about the ‘back to back’.
Andrew Wiggins had a chance to win back to back Rising Stars Game MVP awards and Stephen Curry had a chance to win back to back Three-Point Contests but both players fell short of those goals. Klay Thompson took Curry’s crown and Zach LaVine began his big weekend getting award with the MVP award in the Rising Stars Game.
Zach LaVine repeated as the Slam Dunk Contest champion but he did have strong competition in Aaron Gordon and finally it was down to Russell Westbrook who tried to do the almost impossible and repeat as the NBA All-Star Game MVP.
Although all eyes were on Kobe Bryant and Paul George put up a near record breaking 41 points, it was Russell Westbrook and his 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists that came away with the the MVP award. Westbrook threw down some big slams and hit some three’s on his way to becoming the first player since Bob Petit in 1957-58 to win Back to Back All-Star Game MVP awards.
