60 Years Later, NBA's First All-Stars Remember Inaugural Game

Filed under: Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, NBA All-Star Game

Ed Macauley (No. 22) and Bob Cousy (No. 14) posing with Celtics' owner Walter Brown, 1951

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Ed Macauley waited two years to be named Most Valuable Player of the first NBA All-Star Game. But that's nothing compared to how look it took Macauley to get his trophy.

Try 52 years.

The first All-Star Game was played 60 years ago on March 2, 1951 at Boston Garden. Macauley, a Celtics center, scored 20 points and helped hold legendary West center George Mikan to 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting in his East team's 111-94 victory.

Macauley didn't think much more about that night until the third All-Star Game in 1953. The NBA decided to start handing out an MVP award and had sportswriters vote to retroactively name winners for the first two games. Macauley was honored for 1951 and Paul Arizin for 1952.

"When you get it two years later, you can't get too excited,'' said Macauley, 82, now retired in the St. Louis area. "But still that was a great honor.''

Not that Macauley initially got anything.

Macauley in 2003 was being interviewed on a St. Louis radio show when he was asked by the host about his trophy. Macauley responded, "What trophy?''

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/14/60-years-later-nbas-first-all-stars-remember-inaugural-game/

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