Bulls G Rose claims Skills Challenge title

Feb 15, 2009 - 3:07 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The NBA's next great point guard unseated one of the NBA's current best in Saturday's Skills Challenge, as Chicago Bulls rookie Derrick Rose claimed the crown by defeating the New Jersey Nets' Devin Harris in the final round.

Utah's Deron Williams won it last season, completing the course in an event-record 25.5 seconds. Rose didn't quite match the record as he finished in 35.3 seconds in the definitive round, but that was just enough to come out on top and pick up some hardware.

A competition designed for guards that combines shooting, dribbling, passing and speed, the Skills Challenge has been in place as a part of All-Star Weekend since 2003. Participants have to dribble around obstacles, complete three pinpoint passes - including one bounce pass - and hit one mid-range jumper while starting and finishing with a layup.

"I got a little rest last night and got some sleep so I got my legs back," said Rose, who also participated in the Rookie Challenge on Friday night. "The bounce pass was the hardest. When I got those two in, the crowd got to me and I got scared a little."

In the opening round, Rose and Harris took on the San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker and the Cleveland Cavaliers' Mo Williams. Rose, known as one of the quickest players to enter the league in years, appeared to run through the course in rather nonchalant fashion in the opening round.

Yet, it was still fast enough to record the fastest time.

"I'm just taking my time, going against a great group of guys," Rose said after winning the event.

Dwyane Wade has won the Skills Challenge twice, while Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, Steve Nash and Williams have taken the crown as well.

"Winning this means that people out there now know me, little kids out there watching now know me, world-wide," Rose said. "I am part of history with some of the greatest players in the league (who) have won this."

A bit earlier in the evening, the annual Shooting Stars Competition took place, with the Detroit trio of Arron Afflalo, Bill Laimbeer and Katie Smith claiming the trophy. The event involves a series of six shots - which rotate between one current NBA player, one retired NBA player and one WNBA player - from different specified distances, the last of which is a half-court heave.

"This is my first time doing this, but it was a blast to be with the other players," Smith said. "We were all just having a good time and competing in our own way."

In the final round, the Detroit group took on the obvious hometown favorite, the Phoenix trio of Leandro Barbosa, Dan Majerle and Tangela Smith. After Detroit completed the shots in 58.4 seconds, Phoenix hit each of its first five attempts in about 17 seconds, but couldn't get anything to go down from the half-court line until the necessary time had already lapsed.

"It is never over until it is over," Majerle said. "It comes down to hitting that half-court shot. We felt pretty good because that shot is pretty easy, not only for my self but for L.B., too. We practice that shot all the time."

Other participants were a Los Angeles grouping of Derek Fisher, Michael Cooper and Lisa Leslie; and the reigning-champion San Antonio trio of Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Becky Hammon.