On February 9, 1986, Dallas’s Reunion Arena made history by hosting the 36th NBA All-Star Game, marking the first time this prestigious event was held in the Lone Star State. The game was a thrilling showcase of basketball talent, featuring legendary players like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, and Julius Erving, with Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas emerging as the MVP after an outstanding performance of 30 points, 10 assists, and five steals.
The hometown crowd of 16,573 fans witnessed an exciting contest between the East and West, with the Eastern Conference ultimately prevailing 139-132. Dallas Mavericks’ own Rolando Blackman represented the home team as a reserve for the Western Conference, making his second All-Star appearance and scoring 12 points in 22 minutes of action. The event was broadcast nationwide on CBS, with Dick Stockton and Tom Heinsohn calling the action.
Adding to the historic occasion, the NBA All-Star Legends Classic was also held as part of the festivities, featuring basketball icons like Pete Maravich, Oscar Robertson, and John Havlicek. The weekend represented a significant milestone in Texas basketball history. Since that time, Houston and San Antonio have both hosted All-Star games, as has Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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