:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66251636/1125466265.jpg.0.jpg)
First time All-Star and reining skills challenge champion Jayson Tatum has agreed to defend his crown at this years All-Star weekend.
Tatum accepts invite to the skills challenge.
— Adam Taylor (@AdamTaylorNBA) February 4, 2020
Only two players have ever won the skills challenge back-to-back, they are Dwayne Wade and Damien Lillard. Tatum aiming to be the third.
Tatum won last year’s challenge in dramatic fashion, beating rookie point guard Trae Young with a shot from half court after losing ground in a foot race.
By choosing to defend his title, Tatum is aiming to become only the third player to retain their crown. The others to have done it are Dwayne Wade in 2005/06 and 2006/07 and Damien Lillard in 2012/13 and 2013/14.
He will be facing some stiff competition this year, with the confirmed list of participants being;
- Patrick Beverley
- Spencer Dinwiddie
- Derrick Rose (who won the challenge back in 2008/9)
- Domantas Sabonis
- Bam Adebayo
- Khris Middleton
- Pascal Siakam
- Reiging Champ - Jayson Tatum
The bragging rights are up for grabs in what will surely be a fun specticale of ball handling, passing and foot speed. Should Tatum win, he will place himself among some elite company in Wade and Lillard. You can find a full list of previous winners here.
The skills challenge will take place on Saturday February 15th at 9pm ET.