Grading each event from the NBA’s 2020 All-Star weekend in Chicago

Taco Bell Skills Challenge

Our first event for the All-Star Saturday night was the Taco Bell Skills Challenge. After its inclusion in 2003, the Skills Challenge is an eight-player tournament that pits the players in an obstacle course, involving dribbling, passing and scoring. Usually, the Skills Challenge is forgettable because of the next two events and the focus tends to be more on them than the Skills Challenge. It’s not that it’s bad, in fact it’s quite good, but it usually doesn’t have any jaw-dropping moments, unless you count Jayson Tatum’s miracle shot last year.

This year’s lineup was solid, boasting a broad range of some of the leagues brightest stars. There usually isn’t any complaints about any snubs, because it’s the Skills Challenge, I doubt there will be a huge outrage because someone didn’t make it. Anyways, here’s who participated in the 2020 Taco Bell Skills Challenge:

Originally, Chicago’s favorite son, Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose, was scheduled to take part in the Skills Challenge, but dropped out due to injury. The NBA still stuck with the four guards, four forwards/centers strategy again, not sure why, but it works so no complaints here. Two former Skills Challenge champions also took part, Jayson Tatum and Spencer Dinwiddie, who were both looking to repeat history.

How did it go?

Overall, the Taco Bell Skills Challenge was an entertaining event that gave some great quality action. The results surprised a lot of fans too, who were expecting the guards to dominate, yet the final four were above the height of 6’7″. Nothing was changed but it still worked, it proved that the Taco Bell Skills Challenge is truly a fun event to watch. However next year, the NBA should take some advice to improve and modify the event.

As much as it’s enjoyable to watch, the Skills Challenge course is in need of an upgrade or make-over of sorts. Even if it’s something as small as moving around some obstacles, change would be a welcomed adjustment to the competition. Another issue is that the players need something to motivate them other than gaining a trophy for their cabinet, let them play for a charity of their choice, just for a bit of fun.

In the end, Bam Adebayo took home the Taco Bell Skills Challenge championship, upsetting the whole field of the roster. A lot of fans predicted Jayson Tatum to repeat, so seeing an upset was great.

To conclude, the Taco Bell Skills Challenge was an enjoyable experience and fun event to start off All-Star Saturday night. Though some changes and adjustments could be made to spice up the event, it’s not compulsory. The Skills Challenge does a great job of giving us some intense moments that keep fans on the edge of their seat.

It’s more than likely that we’ll see this event next year, so why not make some changes to it? Freshen it up a little. Seeing an all-big final four was fun to watch. Overall, it was a fun experience to begin an eventful Saturday night.

Grade: A