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Spencer Dinwiddie has had quite the season. In the middle of his breakout year, the Colorado legend was invited to participate in the 2018 Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of All-Star Weekend.
The #TacoBellSkills field at #StateFarmSaturday #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/gkyaK3n2Op
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2018
The Skills Challenge is one of the main events of All-Star Weekend, which will take place on Saturday, Febuary 17. This competition is an obstacle course of sorts where players have to dribble through cones, pass through tires and then shoot, all as a race.
Dinwiddie is on the guards side of the bracket with Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, Denver’s Jamal Murray and the Clippers’ Lou Williams. On the other side, the big men will be New York’s Kristaps Porzingis (the 2017 winner), Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Boston’s Al Horford, and Arizona’s Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen. Personally, I will be rooting my heart out to see Dinwiddie and Embiid face off in the final, just for the incredible trash talking those two will engage in.
It’s wonderful to see Dinwiddie rewarded for his fantastic season. After injuries to Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell, Dinwiddie has emerged as one of the most improved players in the NBA as he has led a frisky Brooklyn Nets squad. In over 28 minutes per game, Dinwiddie is averaging 13.4 points, 6.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds, all career highs. He also has a solid 16.9 PER, a sparkling 115 offensive rating and is leading the Nets in win shares (4.1).
It will interesting to see how Dinwiddie’s minutes and role will change now that D’Angelo Russell is back, but he certainly deserves everything he has worked for, especially this chance to showcase his skills on a national stage.