The NBA’s best have assembled in Chicago and the weekend gets revved up with All-Star Saturday. The opening event will be the Skills Challenge, while takes players through an obstacle course that tests ball handling, passing and shooting.
The event is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on TNT. If you don’t have cable, you can watch a live stream of the 2020 NBA Skills Challenge on your computer, phone, Roku, Fire TV Stick or other streaming device via one of the following cable-free, live-TV streaming services:
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FuboTV
TNT is one of the 95-plus live TV channels included in the main FuboTV bundle, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch a live stream of the 2020 NBA Skills Challenge on your computer via the FuboTV website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or other supported device via the FuboTV app.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV comes with 30 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as a 72-hour look-back feature, which will allow you to watch on-demand within three days of its conclusion, even if you don’t record it.
AT&T TV Now
AT&T TV Now (formerly DirecTV Now) offers six different channel bundles. They range from 45 to 125 live TV channels, and they all include TNT. The “Plus” and “Max” bundles come with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for AT&T TV Now, you can watch a live stream of the 2020 NBA Skills Challenge on your computer via the AT&T TV Now website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or other compatible streaming device via the AT&T TV app.
If you can’t watch live, AT&T TV Now — no matter what channel package you choose — comes with included cloud DVR.
Sling TV
Both of Sling TV’s “Sling Orange” (32 channels) and “Sling Blue” (47 channels) packages come with TNT. They both cost $20 for the first month ($30 per month after that), which makes Sling by far the cheapest streaming service with TNT if you plan on keeping it long term:
Or, as part of a special deal that Sling is currently offering, you can get a free Amazon Fire TV Stick if you prepay for two months:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the 2020 NBA Skills Challenge on your computer via the Sling TV website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, or other streaming device via the Sling TV app.
If you can’t watch live, you can get 50 hours of cloud DVR storage for an additional $5 per month.
Hulu With Live TV
TNT is included in Hulu With Live TV, which comes with 60-plus live TV channels and Hulu’s extensive on-demand library of TV shows and movies:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch a live stream of the 2020 NBA Skills Challenge on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Echo Show, or other streaming device via the Hulu app.
If you can’t watch live, Hulu With Live TV comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as the option to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of space and the ability to fast-forward through commercials.
2020 NBA Skills Challenge Preview
The All-Star game isn’t until Sunday, but there will be lot for NBA fans to be excited about on Saturday between the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest.
The Skills Challenge kicks things off with a competition that tests ball-handling, passing and shooting ability. There’s a diverse field of competitors that includes speedy guards and talented big men. Here’s the list of competitors:
- Bam Adebayo, Miami
- Patrick Beverley, LA
- Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City
- Khris Middleton, Milwaukee
- Domantas Sabonis, Indiana
- Pascal Siakam, Toronto
- Jayson Tatum, Boston
There are eight competitors and whoever wins their heat moves on.
Tatum is the defending champion in the event. Odds Shark lists Dinwiddie as the favorite to repeat at +375, followed by Middleton at +400. Tatum is +475 to repeat as the champion. A forward or center has won the event the past three years: Karl-Anthony Towns winning it in 2016, Kristaps Porzingis in 2017 and Tatum in 2019.
Tatum had a funny response when asked on the TNT broadcast earlier this week about his plan for the event.
“I’m going to get a win on Saturday and then I’m going to retire from the skills competition,” Tatum told Allie LaForce.
Tatum won in thrilling fashion last year, banking in a half-court shot to stun Trae Young.
“The previous two rounds, the guy was ahead of me,” Tatum said after the victory. “Figured I’d let him get a shot attempt so I could get closer to the 3-point line. I didn’t want to give Trae a chance. I honestly didn’t know I was going to hit the shot, but I had to give myself a chance, throw it up there, and it worked out for the best.”
Dwyane Wade and Damien Lillard are the only players to repeat in the event. Wade did it in 2006-07, while Lillard did it in 2013 before splitting the top honor with Trey Burke the year after.
Dinwiddie is the favorite, but it looked like he wouldn’t even compete early on. If it wasn’t for Derrick Rose dropping out due to injury, he wouldn’t have had a spot. While the events are all in good fun, the Nets guard made a statement that showed getting an invite is a big deal to the players.
“Look at it like this: I won the Skills Challenge and didn’t get invited back,” Dinwiddie told reporters. “What does that f—in’ say? Have you ever met a winner of an award not get invited back? Now that s–t is pretty crazy. Folks don’t care about me. I’m Spencer. Quit playin.’ ”