ESPN confirmed details for the televised H-O-R-S-E competition with OKC Thunder captain Chris Paul headlining the group of eight participants.
Wednesday marked four weeks from the night the OKC Thunder and Utah Jazz game was stopped prior to tipoff due to Rudy Gobert‘s positive COVID-19 test. Immediately after, the NBA announced they were suspending the season until further notice.
This past month elicited withdrawal on a grand scale. It feels closer to a year that has passed. Perhaps over the next few months that constant pining for live basketball will ease up with other creative sports and events giving us something to enjoy.
To that end, one such event is the H-O-R-S-E challenge ESPN and the league confirmed will air on two dates beginning this Sunday (April 12th) at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The participant list is also confirmed with OKC Thunder captain headlining the active player list. The other seven players are:
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
Active NBA Players:
- Chris Paul (OKC Thunder)
- Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
- Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)
- Mike Conley Jr. (Utah Jazz)
WNBA All-Stars:
- Tamika Catchings (former WNBA star)
- Allie Quigley (Chicago Sky)
Former NBA superstars:
The brackets are also established with CP3 playing Allie Quigley first. If he’s successful he would advance to round two playing the winner of the Zach LaVine – Paul Pierce matchup. And if he wins that round he would then play in the finals.
Rules:
- No dunks are allowed
- Player must describe shot before taking it and opponent must match the shot
- Coin toss will determine who takes the first shot
- Older of two players will call heads or tails
- Failure to replicate a shot will result in the individual receiving a letter
- The first participant to miss on five shots (spell HORSE) will be eliminated
https://twitter.com/thescore/status/1248358272559493120?s=21
The opening round will air on Sunday, April 12th, with second and final round airing Thursday, April 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Mark Jones will provide hosting services.
As for prizes other than bragging rights, State Farm has partnered and will contribute $200,000 earmarked to go toward coronavirus based charities linked with the NBA Together campaign. The latter has already donated $74 million dollars to relief efforts of the pandemic.
Hosting the event is Mark Jones an ESPN commentator.
Expect to see some of the younger guys drilling deep range shots while CP3 and the former players will likely combine ballhandling skills and craftiness to get up trickier shots.
Thunder fans no doubt would’ve loved to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a pairing versus Ja Morant and perhaps if this competition goes well ESPN and the NBA will consider airing additional such events during the suspension.
For the full details on the event click this link to the ESPN story.