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History of the Skills Challenge

Emmanuel Mudiay will replace Houston Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley in the 2016 All-Star Skills Challenge set for Saturday Feb. 13 at 7:30-10:30pm at the Air Canada Centre. Beverley was the 2014-15 champion of the Skills Challenge last year, but will sit out during the 2016 competition due to a left ankle sprain.

The Skills Challenge will take place as the first series of three events to occur on All-Star Saturday Night. Proceeding the challenge will be the Three-Point Contest and then the night will end with the Slam Dunk Contest, in which Nuggets G Will Barton will be participating.

The event is made up of players from all around the NBA competing for the fastest completion of a series of skills tests. Four frontcourt players will join four guards in the eight-player field – the first time in the event’s 14-year history that multiple frontcourt players will compete. A head-to-head, bracket-style tournament format will be used for the second year in a row.

Skills Challenge is a three-round, obstacle-course competition that tests dribbling, passing, agility and three-point-shooting skills.

As the youngest player on the Denver Nuggets roster this year, 19-year-old Mudiay will go into the Skills Challenge with an average of 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.

Mudiay will be the second player in Nuggets history to ever appear in the Skills Challenge. Earl Boykins previously represented Denver in both the 2004 and 2005 Skills Challenge.

A look back at the Nuggets first Skills Challenge contestant, Earl Boykins.