The NBA HORSE Challenge starts this Sunday on ESPN. The network has finalized a roster of competitors that includes current NBA and WNBA players as well as some basketball legends.
The eight-player field includes:
- Chauncey Billups (2004 NBA Finals MVP & 5-time All-Star)
- Tamika Catchings (Naismith Hall of Fame class of 2020)
- Mike Conley Jr. (Utah Jazz)
- Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
- Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Paul Pierce (2008 NBA Finals MVP & 10-time All-Star)
- Alli Quigley (Chicago Skye)
- Trey Young (Atlanta Hawks)
Players have been paired off for the quarterfinals. The first matchup starts at 7pm on April 12 and features Young and Billups. There will be a coin toss to determine who shoots first.
Other pairings for the quarterfinals include Catchings & Conley, LaVine & Pierce, and Paul & Quigley. The four winners will advance to the semifinals on Thursday, April 16 with the finals to follow immediately after the conclusion of those matchups. There will be no play-by-play, but veteran ESPN broadcaster Mark Jones is set to serve as host.
As is custom, the first player in each game to accumulate the letters “H-O-R-S-E” after failing to match five shots is eliminated. ESPN has added some rules to this competition though.
All competitors will be isolated at their own home court and connected by remote video link. Before shooting, players must describe what it is they are trying to do, including specifying if the shot is intended to switch or bank-off the backboard. Dunking is prohibited.
State Farm is the presenting sponsor of the event. The company will donate more than $200,000 on behalf of the participants to charities benefitting Covid-19 response efforts. To date, NBA-related charities have donated more than $74 million to the cause.
