Charles Barkley was recovering from a stress fracture in his foot and wanted to use the All-Star Weekend break to recover, but the NBA wanted him to play in the game because he had just returned from missing games to play for the Sixers before the break. He went on to win All-Star Game MVP.
Larry Bird (Celtics) and Isiah Thomas (Pistons) were voted as All-Stars, but they both missed the game with injuries.
This was Charlotte's first time hosting the NBA All-Star Game, then at the Charlotte Coliseum on Tyvola Road. The second time is in 2019 at Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte.
Three University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni--who all also grew up in North Carolina--returned to play in this All-Star Game in Charlotte. They were James Worthy (Gastonia, Ashbrook HS), Michael Jordan (Wilmington, Laney HS) and Brad Daugherty (Asheville, Owen HS). Worthy and Daugherty were No. 1 overall NBA Draft selections out of UNC.
Marv Albert did not call the game for NBC because his mother had just passed away. Bob Costas and Mike Fratello called the game, with Pat Riley providing analysis before and after the game. Ahmad Rashad and Steve 'Snapper' Jones provided sideline coverage.