2002 NBA All-Star Game

Don Nelson (left) and Byron Scott (right) were selected as the West and East head coach, respectively.

The coach for the Western Conference team was Dallas Mavericks head coach Don Nelson. The Mavericks had a 35-14 record on February 10. The coach for the Eastern Conference team was New Jersey Nets head coach Bryon Scott. The Nets had a 32-15 record on February 10.

Steve Francis was selected by fans as an All-Star starter for the first time.

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.

For the third consecutive year, Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors topped the ballots with 1,470,176 votes, which earned him a starting position as a forward in the Eastern Conference team for the third year in a row. Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Antoine Walker, and Dikembe Mutombo completed the Eastern Conference starting position. This was the third consecutive All-Star appearance by Carter and Iverson, and Mutombo's eighth appearance as an All-Star. It also marked Jordan's 13th appearance as an All-Star, and the first after his return from retirement. The Eastern Conference reserves included four first-time selections, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Baron Davis, Jermaine O'Neal, and Paul Pierce. Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, and Alonzo Mourning rounded out the team. Two teams, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics, had two representatives at the All-Star Game with Iverson/Mutombo, and Walker/Pierce.

For the second consecutive year, the Western Conference's leading vote-getter was Shaquille O'Neal, who earned his ninth consecutive All-Star Game selection with 1,247,438 votes. Steve Francis, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tim Duncan completed the Western Conference starting positions. Bryant, Garnett, O'Neal, and Duncan were all starters for the previous year's Western Conference team. Francis became an All-Star for the first time. The Western Conference reserves include five first-time selections, Elton Brand, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojaković, and Wally Szczerbiak. The team is rounded out by Gary Payton, Chris Webber, and Karl Malone. Four teams, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sacramento Kings, had two representations at the All-Star Game with Bryant/O'Neal, Nash/Nowitzki, Garnett/Szczerbiak, and Webber/Stojaković.

^INJ Vince Carter and Shaquille O'Neal were unable to participate due to injury.
^REP Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Elton Brand were named as Carter and O'Neal's replacements respectively.[1]
^1 Jason Kidd and Chris Webber were named as starters, replacing Carter and O'Neal respectively

This year's contest adopted a new format. Two pairs of contestants faced each other, with the winner of each matchup advancing to the final round. Prior to each dunk, the players would spin a wheel to determine what kind of dunk they had to perform.