NBA All-Star 2013: Tony Parker looks to defend Skills Challenge title

Feb 25, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs holds the trophy after winning the 2012 NBA All-Star Skills Challenge at the Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
All-Star Saturday Night will feature MVP hopeful and 2013 All-Star Game reserve Tony Parker once again. The 2012 Skills Challenge winner will attempt to defend his crown in Houston, Texas.
This year’s competition will be a tad different. The same course will be provided that won Parker the 2012 contest, but the NBA is approaching this year’s All-Star weekend will be all about East vs. West.
So as Parker will be looking to retain bragging rights for another season, the Western Conference is looking to best the Eastern Conference as a whole Saturday night.
Helping Parker in this effort will be Damian Lillard of Portland and Jeremy Lin of Houston. They will have to outmatch the East’s representation of Jrue Holiday of Philadelphia, Brandon Knight of Detroit, and Jeff Teague of Atlanta.
The Taco Bell Skills Challenge is the second event slated for Saturday Night, and is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. CST.
Parker will need to have another big performance, though he will not have to face the likes of past competitors such as Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, or Chris Paul.
In last season’s event, Tony Parker held the fastest time in the first round, but only less than two seconds separated Parker from Rajon Rondo. With new and younger competition, we will see in a week if TP’s experience on the Taco Bell Skills Challenge course will pay off or not.