Kobe Bryant, West Withstand Comeback Led By LeBron James To Win 2011 NBA All-Star Game

The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was a rousing success in terms of television viewership. Austin Karp of Sports Business Daily reports that overnight ratings for the Sunday game were up 35 percent to 6.2. The 2010 All-Star Game did a 4.6 in overnight national ratings.

Unsurprisingly, All-Star Saturday broadcast viewership peaked during Griffin’s contest winning dunk over a KIA, with an estimated 10 million viewers tuning in between 10:30 and 11 PM Eastern. It seems unlikely Al Horford and Coco Miller drew nearly that many viewers during the Shooting Stars event at the top of the broadcast.

Had the East won, LeBron, who had the All-Star Game’s second ever triple-double with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, would have had a strong claim on the trophy.

With the MVP win, Kobe joined Bob Pettit as the only player in NBA history with four All-Star MVP awards. Kobe had been tied with Shaquille O’ Neal and Michael Jordan for second on that list with three apiece. Kobe shared the MVP award in the 2009 All-Star Game.

Kobe also had 14 rebounds in 29 minutes, and, given that the West held on despite a serious charge by the East, was the clear choice for MVP honors. Kevin Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer and reigning scoring champ, supported Kobe with 34 points. Amar’e Stoudemire had 29 for the East, including a late three-pointer that pulled his team within four points.

The West All-Stars led throughout as Kobe scored at will. That Bryant re-entered the game in the fourth quarter, with the West team up by more than a dozen points, was a clear indication Kobe wanted the All-Star scoring record of 42 points, held by Wilt Chamberlain.

LeBron James led the East team with 15 points. Reigning scoring champ Kevin Durant had 20 points. Kobe was quite efficient in scoring his 34, hitting 13-22 shots. He also had a game-high nine rebounds. LeBron led the East with eight rebounds.

The East team was remarkably sloppy, as the West registered 16 steals through three quarters. Meanwhile, the West All-Star committed only seven turnovers in total through three.

Wade limped off the court and was immediately ruled out of the remainder of the game.

Russell Westbrook, who grew up in Los Angeles, had a rousing stint in the second quarter, scoring eight points in seven points. One of Russ’ buckets came on a powerful transition dunk that momentarily sparked an otherwise dead-silent crowd.

Holloway was a football player at Tulsa, and played basketball with Griffin at Oklahoma Christian School in Edmond, Okla.