2003 NBA All-Star game quotes from the Western conference, from after the game. The questions were asked by various media members.

KOBE BRYANT, Los Angeles Lakers

Q: How does it feel to make the free throws that kept Michael from getting out of here as an MVP?

Bryant: Man, man, put in a tough position. Tough position. Try to chuck it up there, ref blew the whistle, called a foul and go up there and throw it up there at that point.

Q: Were you torn? Did you have mixed feelings?

Bryant: Absolutely. Probably felt like I had a job to do because I'm in the situation that I need to make these free throws, but the other part of me was like, just didn't want to do it, to be honest with you.

Q: So how do you feel now? I remember you saying before the game, it was kind of like a Catch-22.

Bryant: Yeah, I should have kept my mouth shut because that became true and I was put right in the Catch-22 position.

That's a tough position to be in. I would not wish that on none of these players in here.

Q: How would you rate this All-Star experience compared to your past experiences?

Bryant: This one, personally, was the best one, alongside of my rookie year, playing in the rookie All-Star Game because that was the 50 greatest players of all time. Tonight was a tribute to Michael Jordan at halftime. It was really special to be a part of that.

So this All-Star Game, along with my rookie All-Star Game are the best ones, by far.

Q: What did Michael say to you after you made the free throws?

Bryant: He was actually just talking trash. He didn't want me to feel like the way I was feeling. He wanted me to go out there and just play hard and just do everything I could to win the basketball game. I respect that and I understand that, but still, you can't help but be split right down the middle.

TIM DUNCAN, San Antonio Spurs

Q: Were you surprised that the foul was called at the end of the first overtime?

Duncan: I thought it was a legit foul. I was surprised he was put in that space. I just thought, let him shoot the ball and whatever happens, happens there.

I thought there was contact and the shot was taken. I thought the foul had been made and had to be called.

Q: Before the open tap, you were trying to convince Yao to take the open tap. Can you talk about the statements made? Both you guys were laughing.

Duncan: Yeah, he was trying to get one of us to jump for them and we were trying to Vince him that he was 7-8 and he could win the tap. So it went back and forth for a little while.

Q: How does it feel, playing in such a game where everybody wants Mike to win it, and what crosses your mind when he makes that shot in the first overtime, when that's the greatest ending?

Duncan: Jermaine and I were standing at the free throw line the foul before that and we were talking about that. We said, you know what's going to happen, it's going to tie up, Michael is going to hit the shot and that's the way it's going to end.

When it happened, I wasn't surprised at all.

Q: What was it like playing against Michael Jordan? He's been a hero to everybody. You're out on the court but not on the same team, what's it like?

Duncan: It was an honor to be here today. I can look back and say I was really a part of this game. It's always a challenge playing against him. He's a really intense, competitive individual. You just kind of go out there and give it your best, but it's an honor and it's a great thing to look back on.

KEVIN GARNETT, Minnesota Timberwolves

Q: Would you have liked to have seen a third overtime?

Garnett: No. (Laughter) Only if we were down. Only if we were down. I think for the most part, it was a group effort. We kept on fighting. It looked like, old 23 crept back in the building and was trying to take the game, but for the most part, we hung together and won the game.

Q: This game that you played in, you said Michael creeped back into the building; the kind of team that you played with tonight, is the West stronger than the East and the whole division and the league?

Garnett: I think from a forward standpoint, the argument could be very, very valid that the West is probably deeper as far as forwards. But granted, the East has a lot of good players; that being at the 2 and at the guard spot.

I think in all, it's kind of even. I think what we don't have in the West, the East has and what they don't have in the East, I think the West has.

Q: Were you surprised to see the whistle blow at that point with the last second shot by Kobe?

Garnett: No. Because I thought Jermaine sort of drove him out of bounds a little bit. I thought he was a little bit overaggressive. In that situation, you give the ball to Kobe and trying to make adjustments and all that. I think Kobe did a great job of forcing the contact, and the rest is history.

Q: Flip had said he wanted you to come here and win some hardware. At what point, was it this weekend or just tonight and the second overtime did you think you had a chance? And you get so many questions about the need for talented teammates, is this what we see what happens when you have talented teammates?

Garnett: Would I have single coverage?

To answer the first part of your question, Flip said that. My teammates, everybody, friends, family, everybody, I try to explain it to them. The All-Star Game is not about individual. It's totally a group effort. It's a time for you to share stories, good times, emotional times with your teammates. It's a special time for you to sort of kick back and sort of watch everybody else and watch their regimen and all that.

There's no genius, no ego. Me, myself, I don't put that in my head to come here and try to be this, try to be that. I think that takes away from how special the weekend is.

I went into this knowing that this was Michael's last All-Star Game and I know I was going to be playing with him, my first time with Yao, so I had a bunch of things going through my mind, just to go through the weekend.

The second part of your question, the talent around, I think you put talent around any other kind of talent, things happen. I'm not a GM. I don't really make any decisions or anything like that.

You look at a lot of teams and that's what they have, a lot of talent and that's why they are successful.

Q: Describe the level of intensity throughout the game, especially as you got closer to the end of regulation?

Garnett: It got really, really intense. I think the second overtime was really, really, really intense. I think guys started to pick their play up. Guys really, really got aggressive. I thought guys started to really gain their second wind, so to speak. We said that it was going to be either me or Timmy (Duncan) who had the mismatch, and at the time, I had Vince Carter on me and I just told him, "let's take advantage of it," so we did.

Q: Could you talk a little bit about the effect that Michael's last game, does it sort of galvanize you as All-Stars, even though he had retired before now, this is the official send-off, as it were. Now it really is our game and it's time for us to really mature and be representative of the NBA for the world?

Garnett: Well, understand, with greatness, you never rush it. If Mike wants to sit around and play for another three, four years, I think he's earned that right. I'm in no hurry to see greatness leave. I think the only way you are able to gain knowledge is sit back and talk to the great ones, a Magic, a Larry Bird and a Michael Jordan.

I think these are times that we need to cherish this time. Once he's gone, age is going to forbid him from coming back. So, me, myself, it's just sitting back, watching him continue to do the things he do and enjoy the game. I don't think it needs to be perceived any other way.

Thank you, guys. I appreciate it. I just want to say thank you Atlanta. I think it was a great host and I had a great time, so whatever that's worth. (Laughter).

DIRK NOWITZKI, Dallas Mavericks

Q: What are your thoughts about tonight’s game?

Nowitzki: It was fun. At the end it was a close game, and it was exciting to watch. It was an all-around great effort for everyone. It was fun to see MJ out there, making the last shot. It was supposed to be the game winner, but it wasn’t. It was a fun game to be a part of.

Q: What was going through your mind when Jordan hit that shot?

Nowitzki: What’s going through your mind is he’s the greatest. That’s about it. You just know he’s gonna make that shot and it was a tough shot. Shawn Marion was all in his face. He’s just an amazing athlete and I’m glad I was a part of this game with him.

Q: You and Steve Nash put Michael Finley’s name on your shoes. Can you talk about that?

Nowitzki: We feel that Mike Finley deserved to be here as much as we did. We were a little disappointed all three of us couldn’t make it. It was just showing him a little love, and that’s why we did it.

Q: Are your surprised they called that foul at the end?

Nowitzki: I wasn’t surprised. That was a foul. It was just a stupid play. He fouled him. It was right in front of our bench.

Q: How do you feel you did the second time around?

Nowitzki: It was fun. I just tried to go out there and take what was given to me. Made a couple of dunks, a couple of wide-open threes. In the second half, I never really got warm again. It doesn’t matter. We won the game.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, Los Angeles Lakers

Q: What are your thoughts about tonight and the whole experience, and how would you rate this All-Star experience compared to past ones?

O'Neal: It was a great experience. A lot of superstars on the floor. I enjoyed the opportunity to be on the floor with the greatest player to ever play the game. It's another story that I can tell my two sons. I think now the game is where it was when I was in high school, with a lot of great players, rather than just one or two great players.

It was fun. Like I said, I just enjoy being here.

Q: You always give yourself names, man. One name, what would you call Jordan?

O'Neal: The Big Hegemony. Hegemony means to dominate.

He's the greatest player to ever play the game. I'm just glad to have the opportunity to be on the same court as him.

Q: Were you especially motivated to play in this game knowing that this would be Michael's last All-Star Game?

O'Neal: We just wanted to go out and make it a fun-filled event. We wanted to win.

You know, Michael is Michael. Michael did his thing. He's a great player and a force to be reckoned with. Kevin deserved the MVP and he got it.

Q: Michael mentioned how he likes to talk other guys up. In the third quarter, what was the conversation like?

O'Neal: There wasn't really no conversation. We have a lot of respect for each other. I saw an opportunity to get a shot so I took advantage of that opportunity. Not too many people can say they blocked Michael Jordan's shot.

Q: How much does this game speak to the level of parity in the League right now?

O'Neal: Like I said, it's finally back to the way it was when I was watching it. When I was watching it, it was about 15 to 20 great players. You have T-Mac (McGrady) you have Kobe, you have Vince, you have the Truth (Paul Pierce), Yao Ming, Carter, Duncan. We have a lot of great players. It was great to be a part of it.

Q: Do you think the international players have had an impact on the level of play?

O'Neal: The top ten players in the league, four of them are foreigners, Peja, Nash, Yao -- they are all great players and bring a lot to the game.

I'm sure Mr. Stern's vision one day is to have a worldwide NBA. I'm sure if he can take it to China, take it to Mexico City, he will.

Q: How was it to play with someone who is taller than you?

O'Neal: Yao is a good guy. I met his family the other day. Congratulations. I look forward to playing with him and playing against him in years to come. He's a nice guy, very honorable guy. I'm glad that he's here.

YAO MING, Houston Rockets

Q: In your first All-Star Game, were you upset that you didn't get the amount of playing time you would have wanted, or were you sitting back just relaxing, enjoying the All-Star environment? Yao: I just sit back and enjoy the game because the whole game, for me, is a fun place.

Q: In the first overtime, Kobe was on the free throw line. At the time you were watching him, were you wishing him to make it?

Yao: I wanted to win the game -- he I hoped that he could make it because I hoped my team could win.

Q: Michael Jordan had tears in his eyes in the ceremony and I see every one of you was very excited. What did you think when Mariah Carey was singing?

Yao: Today is his All-Star Game.

Q: It's been publicized, some words regarding Kevin Garnett in the past, what was it like today, playing with him as your teammate?

Yao: Unfortunately, good times is short. Most of the time, I have to play as his opponent.

Q: I remember you once said that -- (Inaudible)?

Yao: This time is different. When I stepped on the court, it is like it is a mission. The All-Star Game is an extraordinary prize, reward for me.

Q: I asked you yesterday if making the All-Star Team your first year is something that you would have anticipated and you said that it was beyond your expectations for yourself; that it would take you two or three years to get to that level. Now that you've actually played the game and you've been out on that court and all of the emotions with Michael, did the experience exceed even what you thought it would yesterday?

Yao: I've already said that this All-Star Game is an extraordinary reward for me.

Q: It has been said that Michael Jordan is your idol, so what feeling did you get when Jordan said good-bye, the way he said good-bye to the game? Do you think it should be the same way at the end of your career in the future?

Yao: I really enjoyed the moment and it kind of relaxed me because he has already achieved everything in basketball, so there is no regret. Therefore, when he says good-bye to basketball, it should not be very difficult.

Q: (Inaudible)?

Yao: I'm afraid your question is a little bit too much for me, too early for me.

Q: You said this was a fun weekend for you. What was the most fun that you had, one situation that will stick out most in your mind that was fun for you? Yao: That is that I only had one practice.


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