The best players to ever step foot onto a basketball court have all been recognized with various awards over the years as becoming an NBA All-Star is among the highest individual honors in the game.
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most All-Star appearances with 19, while Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have each made the annual showcase 18 times. James, who is expected to pass Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer, is all but a lock to earn his 19th nod this season.
With only 12 roster spots available in each conference, becoming an All-Star is incredibly difficult. The odds of appearing in the game as a first-year player are even lower as there have only been 45 rookies to make it in history.
The number of rookie players in the All-Star Game has dwindled drastically over the years. The last rookie to be voted an All-Star was Blake Griffin in 2011 with the Los Angeles Clippers as there have only been 10 rookies to make the game since 1985.
Rookie Wire decided to take a look at every rookie to become an All-Star.
Larry Foust, Fort Wayne Pistons
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports Network
Year: 1950-51
Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics
Bob Cousy Celtics
Photo by: NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1950-51
Paul Arizin, Philadelphia Warriors
AP Photo
Year: 1950-51
Don Sunderlage, Milwaukee Hawks
Year: 1953-54
Jack Molinas, Fort Wayne Pistons
Year: 1953-54
Ray Felix, Baltimore Bullets
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports Network
Year: 1953-54
Frank Selvy, Baltimore Bullets
Year: 1954-55
Bob Pettit, Milwaukee Hawks
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports Network
Year: 1954-55
Maurice Stokes, Rochester Royals
Year: 1955-56
Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics
Tommy Heinsohn
Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1956-57
Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Lakers
Elgin Baylor Lakers
NBAE/ Getty Images
Year: 1958-59
Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors
Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia Warriors
Ken Regan/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1959-60
Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers
Jerry West
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1960-61
Story continues
Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals
Oscar Robertson Cincinnati Royals
NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1960-61
Walt Bellamy, Chicago Packers
Walt Bellamy Chicago Packers
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1961-62
Terry Dischinger, Chicago Zephyrs
Terry Dischinger Chicago Zephyrs
NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1962-63
Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati Royals
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1963-64
Luke Jackson, Philadelphia 76ers
Year: 1964-65
Willis Reed, New York Knicks
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1964-65
Rick Barry, San Francisco Warriors
Rick Barry San Francisco Warriors
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1965-66
Wes Unseld, Baltimore Bullets
Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1968-69
Elvin Hayes, San Diego Rockets
Elvin Hayes San Diego Rockets
Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1968-69
Lew Alcindor, Milwaukee Bucks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee Bucks
AP Photo
Year: 1969-70
Geoff Petrie, Portland Trail Blazers
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1970-71
John Johnson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1970-71
Sidney Wicks, Portland Trail Blazers
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1971-72
Alvan Adams, Phoenix Suns
Alvan Adams Suns
AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy
Year: 1975-76
Walter Davis, Phoenix Suns
Walter Davis Suns
AP Photo
Year: 1977-78
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Jim Cummins/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1979-80
Bill Cartwright, New York Knicks
Photo by: Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Year: 1979-80
Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
Larry Bird Celtics 1979
AP Photo
Year: 1979-80
Buck Williams, New Jersey Nets
Buck Williams Nets
AP Photo/Joe Holloway Jr.
Year: 1981-82
Kelly Tripucka, Detroit Pistons
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1981-82
Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons
Isiah Thomas
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year: 1981-82
Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets
Ralph Sampson Rockets 1983 NBA draft
AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler
Year: 1983-84
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1984-85
Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan rookie season
Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1984-85
Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1985-86
David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
Photo by Chuck Solomon/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1989-90
Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets
Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 1991-92
Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic
Shaquille O’Neal Orlando Magic
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
Year: 1992-93
Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
AP Photo/Ruth Fremson
Year: 1994-95
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Craig Jones /Allsport
Year: 1997-98
Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 2002-03
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Year: 2010-11
Story originally appeared on Rookie Wire
