NBA All-Star Weekend returns to the Bay: Revisiting 2000's iconic moments - ESPN

A lot has changed since the Bay Area last hosted NBA All-Star Weekend in 2000.

TheGolden State Warriors' «We Believe» era came and went, paving the way for Stephen Curry and four NBA titles — three before the team left Oakland. Kevin Durant arrived, won two Finals MVPs and moved on. Klay Thompson, a core player of the dynasty, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks after 13 seasons. More recently, the team shook things up again by adding Jimmy Butler. Even their home court changed, as Oracle Arena made way for Chase Center in San Francisco.

Beyond the Warriors, the Bay Area's sports landscape has also seen major changes. The San Francisco 49ers have made three Super Bowl appearances and the Golden State Valkyries debut in the WNBA this spring. But the story isn't as bright elsewhere.

The Raiders left for Las Vegas in 2020, and the A's are following suit with a temporary stop in Sacramento. That leaves the Sacramento Kings, San Francisco Giants and San Jose Sharks as the region's remaining pro teams — though recent seasons haven't been kind to them.

But, instead of focusing on the present, let's take a trip down memory lane. Before this season's stars take center stage, let's rewind to the last time NBA All-Star Weekend lit up the Bay and its iconic moments that made the 2000 showcase unforgettable.

The 2000 Slam Dunk Contest is still the gold standard. Carter's legendary performance, featuring a 360 windmill, the elbow hang dunk and an East Bay alley-oop, cemented his status as one of the greatest dunkers of all time. Each slam sent the judges and the crowd into a frenzy, with Carter casually declaring, «It's over!» after his final dunk. And he was right.

With Carter taking the crown, the top three was rounded out by Houston