The NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge

The NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge is an annual contest held during All-Star weekend. It was first held during 2003 and consists of very skilled guards. It was originally named 989 Sports Skills Challenge, but is now referred to as the PlayStation Skills Challenge. There is a wide range of drills that a player must successfully complete in order to finish the competition. The player with the fastest time wins. In 2008, Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls won with a time of 35.3 seconds.

To start out, the player must make a layup. Then, they must dribble their way through three obstacles and successfully chest pass a basketball into a target. Then, they must get another basketball and bounce pass it into a second target. Next, they must make a twenty foot jump shot. Then, they must throw a long chest pass into a target. To conclude the challenge, they must dribble through three more obstacles and score the basketball to stop the clock. There are four participants. The two fastest times move onto the finals, where the fastest time is crowned the winner. Basic ball handling rules are followed in his competition.

The first competition held was in the 2002-03 season. Jason Kidd won the contest with a score of 35.1 seconds. He beat out Stephon Marbury, Tony Parker, and Gary Payton. The second year was won by Baron Davis with a time of 31.6 seconds. He beat out Earl Boykins, Derek Fisher, and Marbury. The next year was won by Steve Nash, who completed the course in a blazing time of 25.8 seconds. He beat Gilbert Arenas, Luke Ridnour, and Boykins. With a time of 26.1 seconds, Dwyane Wade won the next year's competition. He beat out LeBron James, Nash, and Chris Paul. In the 2006-07 season, Wade won his second straight Skills Challenge trophy. He finished with a time of 26.4 seconds, beating out LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Paul for a back to back crown. Wade was overthrown in the 2007-08 contest, as Deron Williams posted the record time of 25.5 seconds. He also beat Kidd and Paul in their second and third contest respectively. Finally, last year's contest was won by Derrick Rose, who posted a time of 35.3 seconds. He beat out Devin Harris, Tony Parker, and Maurice Williams. Maurice Williams was in the contest as a replacement for the injured Jameer Nelson.

Wikipedia, NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge