Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was already putting his skills on display in the Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend. Now he’ll show them off in the Skills Challenge as well.
Gilgeous-Alexander will replace Pistons guard, Derrick Rose, who dropped out of the Skills Challenge on Wednesday night as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Per Eric Woodyard of ESPN, Rose’s decision not to participate in the competition was “injury-related”.
Gilgeous-Alexander is already playing in his second-straight Rising Stars game as part of All-Star Weekend.
In his first Rising Stars game as a rookie, SGA scored 15 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out six assists, although Team World lost to the U.S. 161-144.
Joining Gilgeous-Alexander in the Skills Challenge is fellow Kentucky alum, Bam Adebayo (Heat), Patrick Beverley (Clippers), Spencer Dinwiddie (Nets), Khris Middleton (Bucks), former Thunder center, Domantas Sabonis (Pacers), Pascal Siakam (Raptors) and Jayson Tatum (Celtics).
Tatum is the reigning Skills champion, while Dinwiddie took home the title in 2018. Patrick Beverly is the only player in the field with a Skills Challenge crown, having won the event in 2015.
The 2020 Taco Bell Skills Challenge will air on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 9 p.m. EST on TNT.
