In a surprising turn during the 2025 NBA Skills Challenge, Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama were disqualified after their unconventional strategy raised eyebrows among fans and NBA officials alike. Team Spurs, composed of both players, attempted to reduce their time through a series of questionable shots that were deemed insufficient by the competition’s standards.

The controversy erupted when Wembanyama, the first to shoot, tossed his basketballs toward the hoop without making genuine attempts to score. Following this, Paul faced the crowd’s disapproval as they booed their tactics. Ultimately, the duo’s disqualification was confirmed due to their deliberate avoidance of the skills test.

“If they weren’t disqualified, I think we probably would’ve just did the same thing,” remarked Donovan Mitchell, who won the event with his teammate Evan Mobley. The Skills Challenge has historically seen players bend the rules, but this instance marked a new low in genuine competition.