If it wasn’t for that pesky passing target.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander probably would’ve advanced in Saturday night’s Skills Challenge. Instead, he was beaten by Khris Middleton, the two-time All-Star for the Milwaukee Bucks who made his first pass and hit his second 3-point attempt to knock out SGA.
Gilgeous-Alexander fell behind Middleton when his first pass ricocheted off the side of the passing target. He also missed his second attempt, before finally connecting on his third.
He told Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman after the competition that “he knew” the passing skill would be the problem.
“Yeah, I’m going to practice a little more passing from now on and hopefully I’ll have the same opportunity from now on.”
When asked what makes that particular skill so difficult in the challenge setting, Gilgeous-Alexander said that he felt like he “rushed the passing”.
“When I thought about it, I think that’s what it was. I was trying to just fire it in there. When you get there just take your time and make an accurate pass. It goes by faster, obviously.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on passing in the skills challenge: pic.twitter.com/oMDFRNmmEW
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) February 16, 2020
Overall, Gilgeous-Alexander has had a successful All-Star Weekend despite getting knocked out of his first Skills Challenge.
He also scored 16 points in Team World’s 151-131 loss to Team USA in the Rising Stars Game on Friday night, where he showcased some crazy handles and his patented Shai scoop.