SAN FRANCISCO — All-Star Saturday Night turned into a unique moment for Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul, albeit not in the way they had hoped. The duo, representing the San Antonio Spurs, was disqualified from the Skills Challenge due to their shot attempts being deemed invalid according to the event’s official rules. Following the incident, the primary question from observers was regarding the origin of this controversial strategy.
“I was behind it,” Wembanyama admitted. “I don’t regret it. I think it was a good idea.”
The Skills Challenge included various tasks like bounce and chest passes, shooting from three designated spots on the court, and dribbling drills. For the shooting component, competitors were required to take either one shot or a series of three, depending on what they felt would be most efficient. Wembanyama interpreted the rules and concluded that flipping the shooting sequence forward would save crucial time.
Their first-round completion time read 47.9 seconds, the fastest of anyone competing. However, that accomplishment was overshadowed when the NBA ruled their shots didn’t align with the true spirit of “valid” attempts. “We had the best time,” Wembanyama asserted. “Statistics tell the story.”
While their unorthodox method raised eyebrows, it did not come as a shock to fellow competitors. Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors recounted that Wembanyama had inquired about the acceptability of his approach before the competition. “It was disappointing to watch them throw the ball in that manner,” Green noted. “But Wemby did check with many people about how to approach the shots.”
Green and his partner Moses Moody would ultimately be bested by the Cleveland team of Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in the Skills Challenge final. Mitchell’s reaction to Wembanyama and Paul’s early exit involved a thumbs-down gesture, eliciting mixed reactions from the audience. “Had they not been disqualified, I suspect we would also have considered a similar strategy,” Mitchell admitted. “It’s all about playing to win.”
Mobley also expressed a desire to utilize a strategy akin to Wembanyama’s. “In my initial round, I attempted something similar but aimed to make it resemble a real shot,” Mobley explained. “However, that tactic didn’t work well, so I adjusted.”
Paul, too, confirmed that Wembanyama sought advice concerning the plan prior to their participation, though he remained optimistic about the experience. “We tried something we believed could help us win,” Paul reflected. “We enjoyed the challenge even if it didn’t go as intended.”
Green recounted how Paul had initially warmed up by taking more traditional shots, but was swayed by Wembanyama, the league’s reigning Rookie of the Year and a first-time All-Star, to embrace the more unconventional strategy. “The veteran followed the rookie right off the cliff,” Green humorously stated.
