Pierce, CP3, Trae among 8 competitors in HORSE Challenge
A mix of current All-Stars and hoops legends will saddle up as part of the eight-person field for the NBA HORSE Challenge.
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, Utah Jazz veteran Mike Conley, and Oklahoma City Thunder ball-handler Chris Paul are the four current NBA players who will participate, ESPN announced Thursday. They will be joined by Class of 2020 Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, WNBA All-Star Allie Quigley of the Chicago Sky, and former NBA champions Chauncey Billups and Paul Pierce.
The event will begin Sunday at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN. To win a matchup, participants have to call the shot they will attempt. If it falls, their opponent has to make the same shot. If they fail, they add a letter in "HORSE." Players are eliminated once they rack up all five letters.
In the opening round, the eight competitors will be split into two groups of four. The first players in each group to win two games will move on to the semifinals, where they will face the winners of the other group.
| Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|---|
| Chauncey Billups | Zach LaVine |
| Tamika Catchings | Chris Paul |
| Mike Conley | Paul Pierce |
| Trae Young | Allie Quigley |
The semifinals and the championship game will then air Thursday, April 16, from 9-11 p.m. ET.
State Farm, the competition's sponsor, will donate over $200,000 to charities focused on coronavirus response efforts on behalf of the eight competitors.
In an effort to even the playing field, no dunks will be allowed. That appears to address one concern Young had regarding the event Wednesday.
ABSOLUTELY NO DUNKING🤨😅🤣 @ZachLaVine
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) April 8, 2020
ESPN sportscaster Mark Jones will serve as the host for the competition.