Rondo not selected for the All-Star Skills Challenge

[Drucci]

Source

The Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose will defend his title in the 2010 Taco Bell Skills Challenge against Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks, Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns and Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz, as part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 13, at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The 2010 field features three of the event's six previous winners.
2010 TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE COMPETITORS
Participant, Team    Pos.    Ht.    Wt.
Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee    G    6-1    169
Steve Nash, Phoenix    G    6-3    195
Derrick Rose, Chicago    G    6-3    190
Deron Williams, Utah    G    6-3    207

With stations testing dribbling, passing and shooting, the Taco Bell Skills Challenge is an excellent measure of a players' overall game. The competitors must navigate through a series of obstacles, shooting stations and passing areas in the fastest time possible. The Skills Challenge is tailor-made for point guards and is a showcase for the NBA's best backcourt players.

In 2009, Rose electrified the All-Star Saturday Night crowd by finishing his final round with a reverse dunk to claim the title.

2010 Competitors: Derrick Rose, Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Brandon Jennings

Am I the only one really disappointed that Rondo has not been selected to the Skills Challenge? I thought that he was going to make it because he was in the All-Star Game.

All the selected players are deserving, although I wonder what Jennings is doing there.

I know that Rondo's shot might have cost him a spot in the challenge but I was looking forward to see him perform in that contest since he is excellent in all its areas (passing, dribbling, running at full speed), except for the shooting.

Plus, the fact that average to "mediocre" shooters like Tony Parker and Wade (two years ago) were selected to the contest makes me wonder why Rajon wasn't selected. Even if his shot killed him in the contest he could not be worse than Parker last year!

[KCattheStripe]

Thats a pretty dang good field. Nash and Deron have better all around games and more people will want to see Jennings, so I'm neither surprised nor disappointed.

[PosImpos]

Yeah, it's about popularity.  Fact is Rondo isn't a very popular (or well known) player outside Boston.

[Birdbrain]

How were the players picked I didn't see that in the article?  The reason I ask is I wonder if Rondo even wanted to be in it.  I envision him having a tough time with that last jumper.

Jennings blows but, I think Williams and Nash should be pretty entertaining.

[Drucci]

Yeah, it's about popularity.  Fact is Rondo isn't a very popular (or well known) player outside Boston.

I don't think it's mostly about popularity. Tony Parker and Devin Harris made it last year more based on their talent and their good season than for their popularity.

If I'm correct, Devin Harris isn't a huge star, is he?

And Parker is "barely" known in France so I wouldn't expect him to be real popular in the US, outside of Texas, that is.

[crownsy]

I agree, not sure why jennings is in this other than the NBA trying to keep the image of "next big thing" it tried to label him as going.

[Donoghus]

Was Rondo actively campaigning at all for inclusion in the event?

[Drucci]

Was Rondo actively campaigning at all for inclusion in the event?

He didn't even talk about if, if I'm not mistaken, but I assumed he would be selected. Pure speculation from me, of course, but I did see more reasons which would have led to a Rondo's selection than reasons against it. Maybe the NBA proposed him and he refused, but knowing that he is a competitor I think he would have accepted (pure speculation once again, uh ).

[Bankshot]

You have to shoot the ball in the skills challenge.  I'm glad he's not doing it.  I don't want him to embarrass me as a Celtic fan when he can't hit that shot!   Just kidding.

[BballTim]

  I'm a Rondo fan and I don't think that his inclusion would be enough to get me to watch a skills challenge.

[Celts17Pride]

I think the skills challenge would be a lot more entertaining if Eddie House, Tony Allen and Ray Allen were invited. Probably would take too long to get through the course. 

[Redz]

I think the skills challenge would be a lot more entertaining if Eddie House, Tony Allen and Ray Allen were invited. Probably would take too long to get through the course. 

It would be even better if it was Ilgauskas vs Gortat

[Birdbrain]

Poor Tony would be 1/2 way done and start his dance like the other night in Washington and then would realize he wasn't actually completed and then bang his head in frustration...

[hpantazo]

I think the skills challenge would be a lot more entertaining if Eddie House, Tony Allen and Ray Allen were invited. Probably would take too long to get through the course. 

It would be even better if it was Ilgauskas vs Gortat

now that would be awesome!

[Change]

I'm Outraged