It was the pass that “doomed” Clippers sixth-man savant Lou Williams in the Skills Challenge on Saturday night.
His inability to pass a basketball through a target slowed him at Staples Center, leading to Williams’ first-round loss, and Spencer Dinwiddie, a Los Angeles native who plays with the Brooklyn Nets, defeated the Chicago Bulls’ Lauri Markkanen to win the title.
“I don’t pass much,” Williams said, jokingly. “I knew that was going to be what I struggled [with] tonight. It doomed me.”
Advertisement
But in actuality, Williams is averaging a career-high 5.3 assists per game, which leads the Clippers.
For Dinwiddie, winning the event had special meaning because of the road he has taken.
He attended Taft High in Woodland Hills, helping the school win a City Section title, before playing for Colorado, where he earned All-Pac-12 Conference honors his sophomore season.
During his two seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Dinwiddie spent a lot of time playing for the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA Development League. He also spent time with the Windy City Bulls, Chicago’s D-League team.
Advertisement
Dinwiddie signed with Brooklyn on Dec. 8, 2016, and that has been his basketball home since.
“It’s big for me to even be at All-Star weekend considering the road that’s been my career, very up and down,” Dinwiddie said. “Obviously being in the G League both on assignment and as a G League player, thank you to the Brooklyn Nets for giving me this opportunity to play and be here.”
Williams had reservations about being in the Skills Challenge competition.
1/53
Chris Rock sits courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
2/53
Actors Chadwick Boseman, center, and Michael B. Jordan, left, sit courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
3/53
Chance the Rapper bites into a piece of pizza courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
4/53
N.E.R.D perform with team mascots on the court at halftime of the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
5/53
Fergie sings the National Anthem at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
6/53
LeBron James laughs as he waits to receive his MVP trophy after leading Team LeBron to a 148-145 win over Team Stephen at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
7/53
Comedian Tracy Morgan eats a hot dog courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
8/53
Kevin Hart is center stage during a pregame show at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
9/53
LeBron James captains Team LeBron against Team Stephen (Curry) at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
10/53
Team Stephen center Karl Anthony-Towns pulls down a rebound over Team LeBron center Andre Drummond during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
11/53
Stephen Curry struggles to dribble past the defense of Victor Oladipo during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
12/53
DeMar DeRozan of Team Stephen gets by Kevin Durant of Team LeBron during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
13/53
DeMar DeRozan leads Joel Embiid to the court after the starting lineup for Team Stephen is announed at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
14/53
Team Stephen defender Draymond Green blocks the shot of Team LeBron center Al Horford during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
15/53
Stephen Curry stays warm on the sideline during a break in the action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
16/53
Jerry West chats with Bill Russel and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, courtside at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
17/53
LeBron James knocks Joel Embiid to the floor after losing control of the ball during first half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
18/53
Russell Westbrook challenges Team Stephen defender DeMar DeRozan during first half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
19/53
Joel Embiid signals after hitting a three-pointer for Team Stephen in the first half at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
20/53
DeMar DeRozan is fouled by Paul George during the last minute of play at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
21/53
LeBron James is awarded the MVP trophy after leading Team LeBron to a 148-145 win over Team Stephen at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
22/53
Stephen Curry is trapped by Team LeBron defenders as he tries to attempt a last second shot at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
23/53
LeBron James, right, and Kevin Durant celebrate a close win over Team Stephen Curry at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
24/53
Russell Westbrook reacts after a kicked ball call prevented a fast break for Team LeBron at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
25/53
LeBron James yells out after hitting a three-pointer late in the second half at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
26/53
Russell Westrbrook fouls Giannis Antetokounmpo as LeBron James looks on during first half action in the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
27/53
Team LeBron captain LeBron James shoots over Draymond Green to tie the score late in the game at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
28/53
Giannis Antetokounmpo slams the ball home for two points over Team LeBron player Paul George during second half action at the NBA All Star game at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
29/53
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, sporting a Darrell Griffith jersey, jumps over three people, including comedian Kevin Hart, during the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
30/53
Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. flies to the basket during the Slam Dunk Contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
31/53
Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oldaipo puts on a “Black Panther” mask given to him by the star of the blockbuster movie, Chadwick Bosman, during the Slam Dunk Contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
32/53
Pacers guard Victor Oladipo wears a “Black Panther” mask while participating in the Slam Dunk contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
33/53
Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. wears his father’s Phoenix Suns uniform during the Slam Dunk Contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
34/53
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell winds up as he elevates during the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
35/53
Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. throws down a windmill dunk after taking a pass from his father, Larry Nance Sr., who won the first Slam Dunk contest in 1984.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
36/53
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is congratulated by Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. after winning the Slam Dunk Contest.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
37/53
Suns guard’ Devin Booker lines up a shot during the Three-Point Shooting Contest on Saturday night at Staples Center.
(Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
38/53
Spencer Dinwiddie poses with the Skills Challenge Trophy after winning the competition on Saturday night at Staples Center.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
39/53
Lou Williams competed in the Skills Challenge on Saturday night at Staples Center. He would lose in the first round to eventual champion Spencer Dinwiddie.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
40/53
Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic of Team World celebrates after receiving the Rising Stars Challenge MVP Trophy from Chris Webber on Friday night at Staples Center.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
41/53
Buddy Hield of Team World is defended by Jaylen Brown of Team USA during the Rising Stars Challenge.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
42/53
Team World’s Bogdan Bogdanovic made seven three-pointers to finish with 26 points in the Rising Stars game.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
43/53
Dennis Smith Jr., of Team USA elevates for a dunk during the Rising Stars game.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
44/53
Lauri Markkanen of Team World finishes off a dunk during the Rising Stars game at Staples Center.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
45/53
Team World’s Dillon Brooks is set to throw down a dunk during the Rising Stars game on Friday.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
46/53
Team USA forward Kyle Kuzma attempts a reverse layup against Domantas Sabonis of Team World during the Rising Stars game.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
47/53
Team World forward Ben Simmons sends a pass ahead to a teammate during the Rising Stars game on Friday night at Staples Center.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
48/53
Quavo, center, accepts the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP Trophy on Friday evening.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
49/53
Michael B. Jordan and Jason Williams greet each other during the Celebrity Game at Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
50/53
Nick Cannon and Justin Bieber watch the Celebrity Game from Team Lakers bench on Friday.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
51/53
Actor Jamie Foxx jokes around before the start of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday.
(Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
52/53
Rachel DeMita of Team Clippers attempts a shot against Stefanie Dolson of Team Lakers during the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at Los Angeles Convention Center.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
53/53
Team Clippers’ Quavo leads a fast break against Team Lakers’ Justin Bieber during the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday at Los Angeles Convention Center.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
Advertisement
His goal was to be selected to be as an All-Star game reserve, but that didn’t happen.
“Like I said, I’d rather have been competing on Sunday,” Williams said. “I think that was what I was putting my energy into. The skills competition was fun, but other than that, I would have taken the days off. But I’m here. I had a good time. It was fun.”
Williams, who was the last player introduced, missed several attempts at trying to pass a basketball through the target.
“I got off to a slow start. I should have got the ball through the hoop the first time,” Williams said. “It came down to the pass. It was a really easy course versus years in the pass. They changed the format of it. But that was it.”
SKILLS CHALLENGE RESULTS
First Round
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia, def. Al Horford, Boston
Lauri Markkanen, Chicago, def. Andre Drummond, Detroit
