NBA Skills Challenge 2015: Participant List, Historical Records and More
While most of the events held on the Saturday night before the NBA All-Star Game are specialized and focus on one aspect of basketball, the NBA Skills Challenge tests a cornucopia of abilities.
Since its inception in 2003, the Skills Challenge has been contested by many of the league's top all-around guards. With dribbling, passing and shooting excellence needed in order to conquer the event, it has traditionally been a great gauge for determining which players can truly do it all.
Guard play is as good as it has ever been in the NBA, and that should lead to an extremely entertaining Skills Challenge this year.
Here is a look at who will be participating in the 2015 Skills Challenge as well as a breakdown below of the stars who have excelled in the competition over the years.
| Patrick Beverley (Replaces John Wall) | Houston Rockets | West |
| Isaiah Thomas | Phoenix Suns | West |
| Elfrid Payton | Orlando Magic | East |
| Jeff Teague | Atlanta Hawks | East |
| Trey Burke | Utah Jazz | West |
| Brandon Knight | Milwaukee Bucks | East |
| Dennis Schroder (Replaces Jimmy Butler) | Atlanta Hawks | East |
| Kyle Lowry | Toronto Raptors | East |
As Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported on Tuesday, Patrick Beverley will replace John Wall in the event.
Jimmy Butler has also dropped out due to a shoulder injury, per RealGM's Shams Charania, via Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that he's been replaced by Dennis Schroder.
Start Time: Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8:30 p.m. ET (second event of night)
TV: TNT
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
Live Stream: TNT Overtime
Mobile: NBA Game Time
Rules
In the Skills Challenge, players are timed as they go through an obstacle course. They must handle the ball around obstructions, make difficult passes and sink shots while doing so.
According to NBA.com, the rules were changed slightly last year; instead of every man participating for himself, there were four teams of two representing either the Eastern or Western Conference.
The two teams with the best times in the first round advance to the final round, and whoever takes the least amount of time to complete the course in the finals is declared the winner.
All-Time Skills Challenge Winners
| 2014 | Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers and Trey Burke, Jazz |
| 2013 | Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers |
| 2012 | Tony Parker, Spurs |
| 2011 | Stephen Curry, Warriors |
| 2010 | Steve Nash, Suns |
| 2009 | Derrick Rose, Bulls |
| 2008 | Deron Williams, Jazz |
| 2007 | Dwyane Wade, Heat |
| 2006 | Dwyane Wade, Heat |
| 2005 | Steve Nash, Suns |
| 2004 | Baron Davis, Hornets |
| 2003 | Jason Kidd, Nets |
Best Skills Challenge Performers
Despite not being a point guard, Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade has had as much success as just about anyone in the Skills Challenge over the years.
He won the event in both 2006 and 2007 with times of just over 26 seconds. Although he is one of three players to have won the competition on multiple occasions, he is the only one to do so in back-to-back years as an individual, according to Wade's World Foundation:
D-Wade has long been viewed as one of the NBA's best all-around stars, and that was on full display in his Skills Challenges appearances.
Even though scoring is his forte, he showed that could dribble and pass with the best of them as well. As the Skills Challenge enters its 13th year of existence, Wade remains the only shooting guard by trade to triumph.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is among the fastest rising stars in basketball. His blend of scoring and playmaking is quite rare, and it has served him well in the Skills Challenge thus far.
Lillard has dominated the event over the past two years, as he won it on his own in 2013 and shared the crown with Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke last season.
According to Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com, Lillard had no problem sharing the wealth after teaming up with Burke in 2014:
"#Blazers Damian Lillard says since he won the Skills Challenge last year, Trey Burke could have this trophy or the scholarship recipient.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 16, 2014"
It almost seems as though the Skills Challenge is tailor-made for what Lillard does on the court on a game-by-game basis. He can truly do it all, which is why it wouldn't be particularly surprising to see him win this event several more times over the course of his career.
While Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams only has one Skills Challenge victory to his credit, nobody has ever performed a better single run through the obstacle course than him.
As a member of the Utah Jazz in 2008, Williams set the event record by finishing in 25.5 seconds. Williams' play has dropped off in recent years, but he still stands as one of the best traditional point guards in the NBA over the past several years.
His showing in 2008 was a perfect representation of that, and everyone who takes part in the Skills Challenge moving forward will aim to match or better the mark that D-Will set.
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