Jayson Tatum Wins 2019 NBA Skills Challenge: Recap, Highlights, Reaction

Featured ColumnistFebruary 17, 2019

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics wins the 2019 Taco Bill Skills Challenge during the 2019 Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on February 16, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kent Smith/Getty Images

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum defeated Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young in dramatic fashion in the 2019 NBA Skills Challenge to kick of All-Star Saturday Night at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The field was once again made up of a combination of both guards and big men:

Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic

The opening round featured a pair of the league's top young stars in Young and Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox. While Fox appeared to have the matchup in hand early on, Young stole the victory with a dramatic three-pointer from deep:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Trae steals the W from Swipa #TacoBellSkills https://t.co/IYqu0zr1F1

Fox, Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley and Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma were all eliminated in the first round.

The second round featured another compelling matchup, as Young went up against Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic. The two rookies were involved in a notable draft-day trade back in June. While Dallas and Atlanta faced off twice during the first half of the season, this was their first true head-to-head battle.

And it was Young who earned bragging rights.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Trae beats Luka in the battle of the rooks 👀 #TacoBellSkills https://t.co/kdnS12QhUA

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Of note, Young is shooting just 31.2 percent from behind the arc this season. He went 2-of-2 on three-pointers en route to securing a spot in the finals against Tatum.

Unfortunately for Young, he was unable to keep up his clutch shooting in the final round, and it cost him as he got a taste of his own medicine. As Young made his way to the three-point line, Tatum let a prayer fly from beyond half-court:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
TATUM FROM HALF COURT FTW https://t.co/nYLpJrqRPl

Just like that, Tatum stunned Young to win the competition. And the internet had a hard time handling what just happened.

Boston Celtics @celtics
JAYSON TATUM FROM HALF COURT FTW

Shea Serrano @SheaSerrano
JAYSON TATUM IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION

Yahoo Sports NBA @YahooSportsNBA
TATUM WINS THE GREATEST SKILLS CHALLENGE EVER 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/OSERg9ae4x

Thomas Duffy @TJDhoops
Trae tried to game the system and throw the ball ahead full-court instead of dribbling. Tatum beat him with a moonshot from 50 feet. Ball never lies.

Tatum let it be known after that he was just looking to have fun while competing:

NBA on TNT @NBAonTNT
"I'm just out here trying to have fun." @ALaForce catches up with #TacoBellSkills winner @jaytatum0! https://t.co/B2rywZyJuy

Now he has a trophy to remember all of the fun he had on this night.

Tatum becomes the first Celtic ever to win the Skills Challenge, an event that dates back to 2003.