NBA All-Star Skills Challenge 2022 Teams, Odds & Picks

The 2021-22 NBA All-Star Weekend is finally here, and basketball fans are thrilled to see so many of the sport’s best players in one place.

Even though some fans and experts think the upcoming activities are meaningless, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s an entertaining three-day experience.

While a lot of viewers will be looking forward to the actual All-Star game itself, it’s the skills challenges that draw in casual and hardcore fans alike. After all, it’s not every day that you can witness the best NBA players demonstrate the skill that sets them apart from the rest of the human population.

This year’s NBA All-Star Skills Challenge is made up of the following three contests:

• Taco Bell Skills Challenge
• MTN DEW 3-Point Contest
• AT&T Slam Dunk Contest

There’s a lot to know about each of the above competitions. Fortunately, we have all of the information that fans and bettors need to know heading into all three competitions.

Here, we take a look at the Taco Bell Skills Challenge. Below are participants, odds, and picks for the event, which will be the first of the three scheduled events to take place.

2022 NBA All-Star Weekend Taco Bell Skills Challenge Info and Betting Odds

Event Information

• Where is the Taco Bell Skills Challenge? Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland, Ohio)
• When is the Taco Bell Skills Challenge? Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Skills Challenge will take place first, followed by the Three-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest.
• Where can I watch the Taco Bell Skills Challenge? TNT

NBA All-Star Taco Bell Skills Challenge Participants

• Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Team Rookies
• Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley – Team Cavs
• Giannis, Thanasis & Kostas Antetokounmpo – Team Antetokounmpo

2022 Taco Bell Skills Challenge Odds (as of Saturday, February 19, 2022)

BetMGM

• Rookies -150
• Cavs +200
• Antetokounmbros +400

Bovada Sportsbook

• Rookies -115
• Cavs +200
• Antetokounmbros +350

BetOnline Sportsbook

• Rookies -135
• Cavs +200
• Antetokounmbros +360

What is the Format of the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge?

This year’s skills challenge will look a bit different from the previous iterations. The three teams above will be competing in a four-round challenge. Each of the teams will partake in the first three rounds, with the two squads with the most points facing off in the fourth and final round.

Here’s a breakdown of each round:

• 1. Shooting
• 2. Team Passing
• 3. Relay
• 4. Half-Court Shooting

Who Will Win the 2022 NBA Skills Challenge?

Each of the teams involved in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge is talented in their own right.

Team Rookies is comprised of three of the top first-year players this season.

Team Cavs will be representing the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and is a mix between Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen’s size with Darius Garland’s skill.

Meanwhile, Team Antetokounmpo is made up of the three Antetokounmpo brothers, who know each other better than anyone else in the competition.

Having said that, Team Cavs is the best pick to win the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge. Despite Giannis being one of the best players in the league, I think Team Antetokounmpo faces a disadvantage when it comes to the shooting and passing portions of it, whereas the other two teams may excel in that regard.

In the end, it could come down to Team Rookies and Team Cavs, with the latter squeaking out the victory. As promising as the rookies are, they still have a lot to learn. Meanwhile, Team Cavs will get an additional boost from the hometown crowd cheering them on.

Team Cavs is also the most well-balanced team and can do a bit of everything. In a competition where variety is key, look for Team Cavs to give the Cleveland faithful something to cheer about.