NEW YORK, Jan. 31 --Nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton of Seattle heads the list of participants in the 989 Sports Skills Challenge. The event will be held on NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by America Online, Feb. 8 at Philips Arena in Atlanta.

Payton will try to navigate different obstacles in the inaugural 989 Sports Skills Challenge.
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The 989 Sports Skills Challenge is a new event designed to highlight the NBA’s top point guards. It features four players competing in a timed “obstacle course” event consisting of dribbling, passing and shooting stations. In addition to Payton, Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets, Stephon Marbury of the Phoenix Suns and Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs will participate.

The contestants in the 989 Sports Skills Challenge will be competing for $50,000 in prize money, with $25,000 going to the winner. Second place is worth $15,000 while third place and fourth place is worth $5,000 each.

NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by America Online, featuring 989 Sports Skills Challenge, Jeep All-Star Hoop-It-Up, 1 800 CALL ATT Shootout and the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk will be broadcast live nationally at 8 p.m. EST on TNT and ESPN Radio. The 2003 NBA All-Star Game will be broadcast in 212 countries and 41 languages around the world and also on TNT, Rogers Sportsnet and ESPN RADIO and audio in several languages on NBA.com on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. ET.

989 SPORTS SKILLS CHALLENGE COMPETITORS
Participant Team Pos. Ht. Wt.
Jason Kidd New Jersey G 6-4 212
Stephon Marbury Phoenix G 6-2 205
Tony Parker San Antonio G 6-2 177
Gary Payton Seattle G 6-4 180