NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes

This game has come a long way in a season, baby.

Last year in Phoenix, the only suspense was whether the actor Bill Murray, starring in NBA commercials in which he was shown taking up basketball, would make an appearance. The league seemed to be warming everyone up, with Murray sightings reported all weekend, but it didn’t happen.

This year Michael Jordan is back, and actors are no longer needed.

Of course, Jordan maintained his custom of skipping the Friday media session, as he had promised to do since he would be talking at Saturday’s practice, embarrassing the league, which once again was obliged to levy its usual fine on him--$10,000.

“Well,” said deputy commissioner Russ Granik, “I would prefer he was here. As he recognizes, he’ll be fined. At the same time we recognize that some players, Jordan in particular, have a lot of pressures on them. . . .

“It is not something we’ll lose a lot of sleep over.”

Hoping to avoid further embarrassment in the form of a photo opportunity, the league didn’t even reserve a table and name placard for Jordan at the Friday session. Presumably, it also didn’t lose much sleep over the absence of Charles Barkley--reportedly playing golf with Jordan.

Then there was the East’s starting center, Shaquille O’Neal, returning to the city in which he went to high school. Shaq mumbled perfunctory answers for 10 minutes, then was asked if there was any place in town he wanted to see again.

“Yeah,” he said, “in about five minutes.”

Then he cut out, 15 minutes into the 60-minute session. Coincidentally, since the story was already written, the San Antonio News-Express ran a headline Saturday that said: “O’Neal rides ability, personality to superstar status.”

All-Star games are customarily formless exhibitions of offense in which the high scorer is awarded the most valuable player award, proving a story line of sorts. There are exceptions when something actually happens: 1985 when resentful veterans froze out the rookie Jordan at Indianapolis; 1992 when just-retired Magic Johnson made his dramatic return at Orlando; 1994 when resentful veterans swarmed all over O’Neal at Minneapolis.

This weekend, however, there are no upstarts who need to be put in their place. Grant Hill led the voting for the second time in his two seasons, even outpolling Jordan, but Hill is so gracious, no one, including Jordan, minds.

“I don’t get it,” said Hill of the balloting, “I don’t understand it. But I’ll take it.”

Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon, chosen as the West’s center, offered to let David Robinson start in his hometown, which Robinson declined with thanks.

“I didn’t expect him to say anything like that,” Robinson said. “I mean, I always had a lot of respect for him and I always felt like he had a lot of respect for me. That’s the ultimate compliment when it comes to playing ball. I appreciate the gesture but it’s a fan’s game and the fans made their statement and I can live with that.”

Jordan and Barkley honored their press obligations Saturday and everything was OK again. This year’s game isn’t a hype or an object lesson, it’s a love-in for a league that can use one.

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Today’s NBA All-Star Game: Rosters

WESTERN CONFERENCE

STARTERS *--*

Player Pos. Team Jason Kidd G Dallas Clyde Drexler G Houston Charles Barkley F Phoenix Shawn Kemp F Seattle Hakeem Olajuwon C Houston RESERVES Sean Elliott F San Antonio Karl Malone F Utah Dikembe Mutombo C Denver Gary Payton G Seattle Mitch Richmond G Sacramento David Robinson C San Antonio John Stockton G Utah

*--*

Coach: George Karl, Seattle

EASTERN CONFERENCE

STARTERS *--*

Player Pos. Team Michael Jordan G Chicago Anfernee Hardaway G Orlando Scottie Pippen G-F Chicago Grant Hill F Detroit Shaquille O’Neal C Orlando RESERVES Vin Baker F Milwaukee Juwan Howard F Washington Patrick Ewing C New York Alonzo Mourning C Miami Terrell Brandon G Cleveland Reggie Miller G Indiana Glen Rice G-F Charlotte

*--*

Coach: Phil Jackson, Chicago