NBA fans quickly realized that the HORSE Challenge was just terrible TV

Well, it was worth a try, I guess.

With the sports world at a complete standstill amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA, WNBA and ESPN had the idea of getting star players (from past and present) to compete in a HORSE tournament for charity.

The HORSE Challenge would take place at each player’s respective courts at their homes and driveways. The footage would be shot with cellphones and sent to ESPN for editing a few days later.

We’re all desperate for sports, so the idea was cool in theory. Fans were actually excited about it.

But when it came time to see the actual broadcast on Sunday, the HORSE Challenge was a huge letdown with laughably poor video quality. The first 30-plus minutes were Trae Young and Chauncey Billups in a battle of pixelated video.

Appreciate the effort but it's not too late cancel this HORSE tournament on ESPN, can't watch this camera lol pic.twitter.com/Zt1QH10ugJ

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 12, 2020

NBA fans had plenty of jokes.

These dudes make millions of dollars but their HORSE footage looks like this pic.twitter.com/KmutWsj15U

— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) April 12, 2020

i appreciate the effort of a HORSE tournament but this is awful television hahahahaha

— whitney medworth (@its_whitney) April 12, 2020

Here is how the NBA HORSE competition was filmed pic.twitter.com/HWusCPQhJ2

— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) April 12, 2020

The Blair Hoops Project.

— Adi Joseph (@AdiJoseph) April 12, 2020

Thank the heavens that I do not have to write about this

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) April 12, 2020

This HORSE game is so low tech it's hilarious.

— Detroit Bad Boys ☠ (@detroitbadboys) April 12, 2020

me trying to watch this spotty wifi horse tourney pic.twitter.com/OijFfh6Whq

— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 12, 2020

HORSE is even worse than expected. There’s gotta be something better than this. Why not have players offer live commentary of classic games with breakdowns of key plays? Why not have better produced player-with-player convos like on IG Live? Anything but a laggy stream of HORSE.

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 12, 2020

when the H-O-R-S-E tourney looks like it was shot on a Gameboy Color but at least there's basketball on pic.twitter.com/cYcUWvTOoc

— #Redraftables (@ringernba) April 12, 2020

live look at the ESPN horse challenge pic.twitter.com/hjwtena3J9

— Zack 🔔 (@EmbiidWRLD) April 12, 2020

*ESPN announces HORSE completion* Everyone: YES! CANNOT WAIT!!

*5 mins into HORSE competition* Everyone: pic.twitter.com/ySndDhy7mo

— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) April 12, 2020

And that’s not all: ESPN plans to stretch the HORSE Challenge out to a multi-day tournament. Just end it now.