NBA 2018-19: Remembering the last three All-Star Game MVP performances

The All-Star Weekend is one of the most exciting weekends for basketball fans and is filled with exciting events. Even though it boasts of a lot of events like Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest, and Rising Stars Challenge to name a few, the marquee event is the NBA All-Star Game.

The game consists of 24 players, with each team having 12 players in it. With 4 All-Star Game MVPs, Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit share the record for most All-Star Game MVP awards won by an NBA player.

This year's All-Star Game will happen on February 17th at the Spectrum Center, Charlotte.

In this article, let us take a look at the last three years' Most Valuable Players.

#3 Russell Westbrook, 2016 All-Star Game MVP

Russell Westbrook was awarded back-to-back All-Star MVP awards

Stat line: 31 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals on 52.1% shooting

The 2016 All-Star Game was the first All-Star Game that happened outside the United States and was held in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre. Russell Westbrook, who was the defending All-Star Game MVP, was once again the center of attraction as he led the West to victory to take home his second All-Star MVP award.

He had himself a night to remember as he finished the game with 31 points on 12-for-23 shooting, including 7-for-17 from behind the arc. Among the five starters in the West, Russ featured in the least amount of action but scored the highest points on the team.

Thanks to Westbrook's strong night, the West blowout the East 196-173. He became the first player in All-Star Game history to win back-to-back MVP awards outright. Paul George had 41 points for the East but could not get the win.

#2 Anthony Davis, 2017 All-Star Game MVP

The hometown guy won the All-Star Game MVP award

Stat line: 52 points, 10 rebounds and 2 steals on 66.6% shooting

The 2017 All-Star Game was held in New Orleans and all eyes were on the home guy Anthony Davis. This game was filled with Davis's dunks and with teams playing no defense, 'The Brow' made this game his own slam dunk contest.

To be quite honest, this was a pretty boring game as there was no competitiveness involved with the players relaxed for the most part. The players in the West kept throwing lobs to Davis who slammed them home.

Davis took as many as 39 shots from the field and made 26 of them. He finished the game with 52 points, which is the most ever scored by a player in an All-Star Game. The hometown guy won the All-Star Game MVP and the crowd erupted in joy. The West defeated the East 192-182.

#1 LeBron James, 2018 All-Star Game MVP

LeBron James received his third All-Star MVP trophy

Stat line: 29 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and a steal on 70.6% shooting

One thing the fans have always complained about is the level of competitiveness displayed by the players in the All-Star games. The players have been widely accused of not putting enough effort on the defensive end by the NBA universe.

This made the NBA re-think about the West vs East concept and they finally decided to not have it as East vs West but have two captains, one from the West and one from the East and have them choose their own teams. Stephen Curry was the captain from West and LeBron James was the captain from East.

Team Stephen went against Team LeBron in the All-Star Game and it turned out to be an exciting thriller that went down to the wire. James was red-hot at Spectrum Center and finished the night shooting 12-for-17, including 4-for-8 from the three-point line.

The King had several highlight-plays that night and was present everywhere on the court. He fell two assists shy of a triple-double and had 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Team LeBron went on to win the game 148-145 and James was subsequently awarded the All-Star Game MVP trophy for his brilliant performance. This was LeBron James' third All-Star Game MVP award.