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For the second year in a row, the Antetokounmpo brothers fall short in the Skills Challenge.
Team Jazz emerged winners of the 2023 NBA Skills Challenge in the early hours of Sunday, February 19, 2023.
The Jazz team defeated a team made of rookies and the Antetokoumpo brothers to emerge champions in front of their fans.
The NBA Skills challenge saw the Antetokounmpo brother return again to compete against the hometown team and a squad made of rookies.
NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was initially slated to participate with his brothers but opted to step aside due to a wrist injury suffered in his last regular season game against the Chicago Bulls.
Giannis was replaced in the Antetokounmpo by his Milwaukee Bucks teammate and point guard Jrue Holiday.
NBA Skills Challenge participants
Team Antetokounmpo: Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Alex Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Herd; G League), Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks; Giannis’ injury replacement/temporary Antetokounmpo)
Team Rooks: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets), Jaden Ivey (Detroit Pistons)
Team Jazz: Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson
In the revamped Skills Challenge the three teams took to the court in Salt Lake City for a set of challenges.
The second edition of this new format tested the players ball-handling, shooting, and passing.
As part of the new Skills Challenge, there were three rounds to determine the best team.
The three challenges included the team relay, the team passing challenge, and the team shooting challenge.
Solid scoring from Jabari Smith Jr and good footwork from Jaden Ivey had the rookie team in an early lead.
The youngest Antetokoumpo Alex bypassed some of the obstacles just like Josh Guddey for Team rookie last season which resulted in a penalty.
The passing challenge was dominated by Team Jazz as they took the lead with rookie big man Walker Kessler.
He produced some impressive bounce passes to score 40 points. Team Jazz secured their second win of the night in the shooting challenge to claim the gold medal.
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