All-Star Saturday Night is here, and the city of Chicago is ready for one of the most exciting nights on the NBA calendar. Among the three events on the schedule, the Skills Challenge might be viewed as an appetizer to the more glamorous 3-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest. Still, the opening act isn't one to be skipped.
Once again, the Skills Challenge will feature some of the best guards and big men in the league, including defending champion Jayson Tatum. They will also be tested on their ball-handling, agility, passing and shooting skills. Matchups for the first round will be determined on Saturday night for the bracket-style contest.
Here's everything you need to know about the Skills Challenge:
How to watch NBA All-Star Saturday Night
- What: Skills Challenge
- When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m. ET (first event)
- Where: United Center -- Chicago, Illinois
- TV: TNT | Streaming: fuboTV (try it free)
Skills Challenge participants
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (defending champion)
- Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
- Patrick Beverley, Los Angeles Clippers
- Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder*
- Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
- Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers
- Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
*Injury replacement for Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose
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Skills Challenge rules
While the Skills Challenge doesn't have the historic cache of the other contests, it is pretty fun in its own right -- especially now that they've turned it into a bigs vs. guards competition. This is a three-round, bracket-style contest, where players will compete head-to-head in an obstacle course featuring checkpoints that test their dribbling, passing and shooting. In each round, two contestants will go simultaneously, and the player who completes the course the fastest moves on to the next round. The winner of the championship round is declared the winner. First-round matchups will be determined prior to the event.
Jayson Tatum is returning to defend his crown, and 2018 champion Spencer Dinwiddie is back again as well. Bam Adebayo and Domantas Sabonis are some of the standout bigs, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is stepping in for Derrick Rose as an injury replacement.
