On February 15th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1978 during the NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, Georgia. The game is best remembered for the incredible performance put on by Randy Smith of the Buffalo Braves (now known as the Los Angeles Clippers).
Smith, a 6'3" guard, entered the game as a reserve for the East squad. Despite coming off the bench, he put on a scoring clinic, dropping a then-record 27 points in just 28 minutes of play. His performance was so impressive that he was named the game's MVP, becoming the first and only player to win the award while not being named a starter.
What made Smith's performance even more remarkable was his efficiency. He connected on 11 of his 14 field goal attempts, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc (which had just been introduced in the NBA that season). Smith also added 7 rebounds and 2 assists to his stat line.
The East squad, coached by Billy Cunningham of the Philadelphia 76ers, also featured stars like Julius Erving, George Gervin, and Pete Maravich. However, it was Smith who stole the show and etched his name in the history books.
The East went on to win the game 133-125, thanks in large part to Smith's offensive outburst. The 1978 NBA All-Star Game will always be remembered as the night Randy Smith, an unheralded player from a small-market team, outshone some of the biggest names in basketball and delivered one of the greatest individual performances in All-Star Game history.
