An echo of boos rang in from the Chase Center crowd Saturday night, as San Antonio Spurs players Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama seemingly tried to "bend the rules" during the 2025 NBA All-Star Skills Challenge.
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That is, the Spurs duo made an effort to save time by launching balls off the rack instead of shooting them, which led to finishing the competition in a record-breaking 47.9 seconds.
Chris Paul and Victor Wenbanyama found the hack in the Skills Challenge. pic.twitter.com/lP5CzssATS
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) February 16, 2025
However, CP3 and Wemby were disqualified, as per the official rules: each participant must make valid shot attempts.
The Spurs duo of Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul have been DQ’d from advancing to the final round of the skills competition because they did not make “valid shot attempts” 😅 pic.twitter.com/0FzfT5SjxO
— Zack Hedrick (@zhedrickTV) February 16, 2025
Fans boo Wemby and CP3 for trying to rig the Skills Challenge
The Spurs have been disqualified pic.twitter.com/ofTTOlzdry
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) February 16, 2025
Many thought the crafty veteran Paul was behind this idea, but news reports came out later that it was actually the 2023 No. 1 overall pick.
Reportedly, prior to the competition starting, Wembanyama had asked several different officials if their attempt to toss the balls out of the rack was legal or not.
Apparently, he spoke with the wrong people...
“We need to start taking the ASG more serious” - Adam Silver
“On it boss” - Wemby
pic.twitter.com/nYwupAnnqW— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) February 16, 2025
When asked by reporters, who came up with the 'time-saving strategy,' Wemby took credit.
"I did... I don't regret it. I think it was a good idea," he replied.
Multiple reports from #NBAAllStar2025 say Victor Wembanyama is taking credit for the strategy he and Chris Paul used. Wemby says the Spurs duo was initially given the green light by the NBA, but it was later revoked after the crowd booed and complained. pic.twitter.com/rEonCVWlFH
— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) February 16, 2025
Wembanyama: "Was I booed, I don't think I was booed."
Reporter: "You didn't hear?"
Wembanyama: "I wasn't booed right? ... Chris [Paul] was."
LMAO they wouldn't let TNT Interview Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama after they got disqualified from the NBA Skills Challenge pic.twitter.com/u7Yat5XRKQ
— Anthony (@anthonyjc92) February 16, 2025
Warriors' Draymond Green, who also competed in the NBA Skills competition, confirmed that 21-year-old Wemby was the mastermind behind trying the 'loophole,' and not the 20-year NBA vet/12-year All-Star, CP3.
"The old man followed the rookie... right off the cliff," Green said while laughing.
Draymond Green vouches for Victor Wembanyama, saying that he saw him ask several officials if he could use the strategy Wemby and Chris Paul used to hack the #NBAAllStar2025 Skills Challenge.
(🎥: @DaltonJ_Johnson) pic.twitter.com/nCqxDmO5Js— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) February 16, 2025
Ultimately, it was the Cleveland Cavaliers team, Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell, who won the 2025 Kia Skills Challenge.
TEAM CAVS (MOBLEY & MITCHELL) ARE THE 2025 #KiaSkills CHAMPS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/blkOMl2v5G
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
The Cavs duo finished with an impressive time of 1:00 (without cutting any corners), to defeat Draymond and Moses Moody in the final round.
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