Although the NBA's inadequate new All-Star game format didn't have many memorable shots, one college student won a six-figure award on Sunday for his trip over Damien Lillard for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jalen Barajas, a freshman at Los Medanos University in Pittsburgh, California, faced Lillard in the MrBeast $100,000 challenge.
Barajas, 18, was tasked with hitting a shot from the logo, past the three-point line at San Francisco Chase Center before Lillard reached the three.
In the timing race, which concluded in three minutes, eight-time All-Star Lillard hit a pair shot from the logo, but Barajas banked one and left with under 30 seconds left.
That led to an emotional response from Barajas, with TNT broadcasters Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith subsequently carrying them around to the NBA mascot, dumped in a cash box and hugging a teen airgar covered in bank notes. Ta.
“It's coming down on the wire and there's 30 seconds left and my dad always says, 'Use the backboard,'” Barajas said. “That's what I had to do to get it to do.”
Barajas later called the money-making shot “life-changing.”
“This would mean the world to me,” Barajas said. “It will help my family a lot and definitely help my future. Hopefully it will help me pay for my education.”
Lillard, who also took part in the 3-point contest but failed to defend the two crowns that Miami's Tyler Hero took it, said, “I'm not the kind of thing you can influence someone else.” I love being a part of it.”
Barajas was randomly chosen from the crowd. Barajas, a former high school basketball player, graduated from Freedom High School in Oakley, California last year.
“I was surprised by these tickets [Saturday]So I didn't even know I was coming to the game,” Barajas said. “It's so surreal to have this experience. I'm so grateful… I just beat Damian Lillard.”
