The14th National Basketball Association All-Star Game was played on January 14, 1964, atBoston Garden inBoston. The coaches wereRed Auerbach for the East, andFred Schaus for the West.
The game was notable for the threat of a strike by the players, who refused to play just before the game unless the owners agreed to recognize the players' union. The owners agreed primarily because it was the first All-Star Game to be televised and if it were not played due to strike it would have been embarrassing at a time when the NBA was still attempting to gain national exposure. The NBA did not have a national TV contract at the time, but ABC agreed to televise the All-Star game and consider a contract for continuing coverage. They made it clear that if the All-Star Game was not played, ABC would drop its interest completely. This led directly to many rights and freedoms not previously extended to professional basketball players.[1]
