Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James never takes playing at Madison Square Garden for granted, even when it is an exhibition game, as it was on Sunday night.
As a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, James scored 30 points, handed out seven assists and corralled five rebounds. In 32 minutes, James converted 11 of his 21 shots from the field, including four of his 12 three-point attempts, and led the Eastern Conference in scoring.
"Don't get no better, man," James said of playing in Madison Square Garden. "You play in The Garden in front of these fans, they know the game of basketball, and to be able to go out and represent my team and represent this league at the highest level, it means everything.
"I understand that my fans and our fans for this great game voted me in for a reason. They wanted to see me play. They wanted to see me do what I've been doing this year, and that's why they voted me in. It's my obligation and my responsibility to go out there. If I'm feeling 80 percent or 85 percent or 90, to go out there and give my fans something, give my fans what they wanted to see, and hopefully, I did that."
By tallying 30 points, James moved past Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan for second place on the NBA's all-time All-Star Game scoring list, and trails only Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant (280) for the most points in league history.
"Anytime you're in the conversation with a great is very humbling," James said. "It's an honor, and I just got to keep getting better and better hopefully, and keep understanding how I got here and why I'm here."
An 11-time NBA All-Star, James embraced the opportunity to show some of the league's younger players that although he is 30 years old, there is still a lot of good basketball left in his career.
"You definitely enjoy it," James said. "I was one of the young guys at a time. I was seeing the older guys, and you try to make your mark. And now, being in the reverse role, you just know that our league is in good hands.
"I'm going to try to continue to do what I need to do to represent this league with the utmost respect both on the floor and off the floor, but our league is definitely in good hands with the young group of talent that we have that's playing great basketball right now."
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is one of those young players who James was referring to in his post-All-Star Game press conference.
En route to being named the All-Star Game MVP, Westbrook scored 41 points in leading the Western Conference to a 163-158 victory over the East, and those points came up just one short of tying the NBA record of 42 that was set by Wilt Chamberlain.
"Be Russell Westbrook, stop caring about what everybody else thinks," James said of the advice he would give Westbrook.
"Just be yourself. Just be yourself. That's all. That's all that matters. Russell Westbrook is one of the best gifted talents this game has ever seen, and he goes out every night and proves that and shows it. I don't need to tell him anything. He's doing great.
"I think Westbrook came for it from the start. He's unbelievable. He's an unbelievable talent in our league. His motor, his athleticism, his demeanor about how he approaches the game, it's all great, and it's great for our league. And he showed that, showcased it on a big stage, and it's great."
