A 7’3″ #TacoBellSkills Challenge winner?
Kristaps Porzingis is a [?] for sure. pic.twitter.com/SjFFE5ABeU
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
Your 2017 #TacoBellSkills challenge champion…
KRISTAPS PORZINGIS! #NBAGIF pic.twitter.com/vOEtlNHcm9
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
Saturday
At Smoothie King Center
New Orleans
First Round
Gordon Hayward, Utah, def. John Wall, Washington
Isaiah Thomas, Boston, def. Devin Booker, Phoenix
Kristaps Porzingis, New York, def. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento
Nikola Jokic, Denver, def. Anthony Davis, New Orleans
Semifinals
Gordon Hayward, Utah, def. Isaiah Thomas, Boston
Kristaps Porzingis, New York, def. Nikola Jokic, Denver
Finals
Kristaps Porzingis, New York, def. Gordon Hayward, Utah
All 3 rounds of KP the [?] ! pic.twitter.com/xjfZrhHhYh
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2017
Past winners
2017 — Kristaps Porzingis, New York
2016 — Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota
2015 — Patrick Beverley, Houston
2014 — Trey Burke, Utah; Damian Lillard, Portland-x
2013 — Damian Lillard, Portland
2012 — Tony Parker, San Antonio
2011 — Stephen Curry, Golden State
2010 — Steve Nash, Phoenix
2009 — Derrick Rose, Chicago
2008 — Deron Williams, Utah
2007 — Dwyane Wade, Miami
2006 — Dwyane Wade, Miami
2005 — Steve Nash, Phoenix
2004 — Baron Davis, New Orleans
2003 — Jason Kidd, New Jersey
Note: x-format changed to a two-man relay.
Meanwhile, Porzingis’ teammate, Carmelo Anthony, was looking forward to being somewhere other than New Orleans this weekend.
The Knicks’ prolific scorer was certainly not suffering from All-Star envy when he was initially left off of this season’s Eastern Conference roster. In fact, Anthony conceded after an All-Star practice on Saturday that he was “a little jealous” of friends and family he’d planned to join on a short vacation to Cuba and Puerto Rico during nearly a week off from the regular season.
That was before Commissioner Adam Silver called on “Melo” to replace injured Cleveland star Kevin Love on the East squad.
At least All-Star weekend happens to be in a world-renowned tourist hot spot — during Mardi Gras , to boot.
“I’m still excited about” being an All-Star for a 10th time, adding that he still appreciates “what a big deal it is.”
He added that being around other All-Stars , where there are so many other story lines pulling attention and scrutiny away from him, “is definitely therapy for me.”
“This is a break for me to come here and not have to deal with my situation or our organization,” he said.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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