It was arguably the most memorable and emotional game in NBA history.
Magic Johnson - having abruptly retired prior to the 1991-92 season after announcing he contracted HIV - returned on Feb. 9 for the 1992 All-Star Game and put on a dazzling performance for the ages.
Johnson, who was voted into the Western Conference's starting lineup by fans, dropped 25 points and dished out nine assists in an inspirational effort that included one-on-one showdowns with rivals Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas.
The game's signature play came in the final moments of the West's record-breaking 153-113 blowout win, when Johnson backed Thomas down and nailed a buzzer-beating step-back 3-pointer. It was an emphatic end to a dominating effort that secured Johnson his second All-Star Game MVP award.
The 153 points matched an All-Star record for most scored by a team in regulation and the largest margin of victory in the game's history.
Johnson's performance stole the spotlight from one of the most impressive All-Star Game rosters ever assembled:
| East starters | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Isiah Thomas | Pistons |
| SG | Michael Jordan | Bulls |
| SF | Larry Bird | Celtics |
| PF | Charles Barkley | 76ers |
| C | Patrick Ewing | Knicks |
| West starters | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Magic Johnson | Lakers |
| SG | Clyde Drexler | Trail Blazers |
| SF | Chris Mullin | Warriors |
| PF | Karl Malone | Jazz |
| C | David Robinson | Spurs |
Johnson's final All-Star appearance put a bow on a memorable weekend that included Cedric Ceballos's classic blindfolded dunk and Craig Hodges' third straight 3-Point Contest championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers point guard, who coached the team for 16 games in 1993-94, would return to basketball one last time during the 1995-96 season, averaging 14.6 points and 6.9 assists in 32 games.
