The 2005 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played on February 20, 2005, at Pepsi Center in Denver, home of the Denver Nuggets. This game was the 54th edition of the North American National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game and was played during the 2004–05 NBA season.
For the second time in the last six years, the East defeated the West 125–115, with Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers named the Most Valuable Player. Iverson scored 15 points, handed out 10 assists, and had 5 steals. Ray Allen led the West with 17, and 5-for-11 from three-point range.
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The first day of the weekend had a celebrity game and rookie challenge, which was a competition that placed the best First year Rookie against the best second year Rookie. On the Saturday of the All-Star weekend was the dunk and three-point shooting contest and finally they had the All-Star game on Sunday. This time it is the 54th NBA All-star game. Each player was selected by fans and coaches. Many players either made their all-star debut or a familiar face had been traded to another team and started a new role. Shaquille O'Neal was a starter for the East because Los Angeles Lakers traded him to Miami Heat. Antawn Jamison, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James made their All-star debut for the Eastern team. Amare Stoudemire, Gilbert Arenas, Manu Ginóbili and Rashard Lewis also made their All-Star debut at this time.
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All-Star Game
Coaches
The coaches for the All-Star game were the head coaches who led the teams with the best winning percentages in their conference through the games of February 6, 2005. The coach for the Western Conference team was San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. The Spurs had a 41–12 record on February 20. The coach for the Eastern Conference team was Miami Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy. The Heat had a 40–14 record on February 20.
Players
thumb|right|[[Yao Ming received the most votes for the 2005 All-Star game]]
The rosters for the All-Star Game were chosen in two ways. The starters were chosen via a fan ballot. Two guards, two forwards and one center who received the highest vote were named the All-Star starters. The reserves were chosen by votes among the NBA head coaches in their respective conferences. The coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. The reserves consist of two guards, two forwards, one center and two players regardless of position. If a player is unable to participate due to injury, the commissioner will select a replacement.
The 2005 NBA All-Star introduced international players who became superstars. Amongst the players selected were: Žydrūnas Ilgauskas (Lithuania), Manu Ginóbili (Argentina), Steve Nash (Canada), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) along with voted-starters Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands) and Yao Ming (China). This game tied the 2003 and 2004 All-Star Game record for the most international All-Stars in one year.
After being traded to the Eastern Conference's Miami Heat, Shaquille O'Neal led the East ballots with 2,488,089 votes. This would be O'Neal's twelfth appearance as an All-Star. Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, LeBron James, and Grant Hill completed the Eastern Conference starting position. This was James' first All-Star appearance. The Eastern Conference reserves included three first-time selections, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, and Antawn Jamison. Ilgauskas, Ben Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal, and Paul Pierce rounded out the team. Three teams, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Washington Wizards, had two representations at the All-Star Game with James/Ilgauskas, O'Neal/Wade, and Arenas/Jamison.
Roster
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Western Conference All-Stars
|-
! scope="col" style="width:25px;"|Pos
! scope="col" style="width:125px;"|Player
! scope="col" style="width:150px;"|Team
! scope="col" style="width:75px;"|No. of selections
! scope="col" style="width:75px;"|Votes
|-
!scope="col" colspan="5"|Starters
|-
|G
|style="text-align:left"|Kobe Bryant
|style="text-align:left"|Los Angeles Lakers
| 7
| 1,815,952
|-
|G
|style="text-align:left"|Tracy McGrady
|style="text-align:left"|Houston Rockets
| 5
| 1,993,687
|-
|F
|style="text-align:left"|Kevin Garnett
|style="text-align:left"|Minnesota Timberwolves
| 8
| 2,087,200
|-
|F
|style="text-align:left"|Tim Duncan
|style="text-align:left"|San Antonio Spurs
| 7
| 1,812,522
|-
|C
|style="text-align:left"|Yao Ming
|style="text-align:left"|Houston Rockets
|3
|2,558,578
|-
!scope="col" colspan="5"|Reserves
|-
|G
|style="text-align:left"|Ray Allen
|style="text-align:left"|Seattle SuperSonics
|5
|—
|-
|G
|style="text-align:left"|Manu Ginóbili
|style="text-align:left"|San Antonio Spurs
|1
|—
|-
|G
|style="text-align:left"|Steve Nash
|style="text-align:left"|Phoenix Suns
|3
|—
|-
|F
|style="text-align:left"|Rashard Lewis
|style="text-align:left"|Seattle SuperSonics
|1
|—
|-
|F
|style="text-align:left"|Shawn Marion
|style="text-align:left"|Phoenix Suns
|2
|—
|-
|F
|style="text-align:left"|Dirk Nowitzki
|style="text-align:left"|Dallas Mavericks
|4
|—
|-
|C
|style="text-align:left"|Amare Stoudemire
|style="text-align:left"|Phoenix Suns
|1
|—
|-
|style="text-align:left" colspan="5"|Head coach: Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Eastern Conference All-Stars
Three-Point Contest
Quentin Richardson of the Phoenix Suns won the Three-Point Shootout.