Parker wins 2012 All Star Skills Challenge

This article is cross-posted at Spurs Basketball

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker won the Skills Competition of the NBA’s All-Star Saturday night festivities.

Tony Parker won the 2012 All Star Skills Competition (Photo via NBA.com)

Parker was the only one of six participants to break 30 seconds in the first round (29.2) and this time of 32.8 in the final run on the obstacle course was better than Boston’s Rajon Rondo (34.6) and New Jersey’s Deron Williams (41.4).

The speedy Parker put together an impressive display on the skills obstacle course, which involves participants moving through a dribbling circuit, successfully throwing chest passes through a hanging tire and driving for a layup.

Williams, the 2008 winner, holds the record for the skills’ course at 25 seconds, but had trouble completing a pass in the final round on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Team New York, consisting of former Knicks star Allan Houston, current Knicks guard Landry Fields and Cappie Pondexter of the WNBA’s New York Liberty, won the Shooting Stars event.

Becky Hammon Named to WNBA Top 15

San Antonio Silver Stars guard Becky Hammon has been named one of the Top 15 Players in WNBA history. Hammon was honored during a special halftime ceremony aired live on ABC during halftime of the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images/WNBA

“The 15 athletes honored today represent an extraordinarily accomplished group and the very best in women’s professional basketball from around the world,” said WNBA President Laurel J. Richie. “In just the few months I’ve been with the WNBA, I have had an opportunity to meet each of the current players on this list as well as some of the legends who paved the way.

I have found that they are not only tremendous athletes who have reached extraordinary heights on the court, but also terrific women who give unselfishly of their time in the community. I am proud to be associated with these outstanding women; and I am so pleased for them that the fans, media members, and the current generation of players and coaches, have chosen to recognize and honor them.”

A seven-time WNBA All-Star selection (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011), Hammon was signed by the New York Liberty as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State University. After eight seasons with the Liberty, Hammon was traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for 2007 second overall draft pick Jessica Davenport and a 2008 first round selection.

In the 2011 WNBA All Star game, Hammon had eight points and four assists but the West All-Stars fell 118-113 to the East team on Saturday in San Antonio. Danielle Adams came off the bench and scored two points.

All Star coming to San Antonio: Hammons, Adams named as reserves

The 2011 WNBA All-Star Game will be nationally broadcast by ABC, Saturday, July 23 at 2:30 p.m. CT from San Antonio. It marks the first time the All-Star Game will be hosted by San Antonio and only the second time the midseason showcase has been hosted by a Western Conference team.

San Antonio Silver Stars guard Becky Hammon and forward Danielle Adams headline the reserves for the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game. Adams, a second round pick (20th overall) in the 2011 WNBA Draft, is one of a record 10 players – four starters and six reserves – making their first All-Star appearances, the most since 2000 when nine were selected.

Reserves were selected by the league’s 12 head coaches. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team, and selected reserves by voting for six players within their own conference, including two guards, two forwards, one center and one player regardless of position.

“We want to congratulate Becky and Danielle for being chosen to play in the All-Star Game,” Silver Stars head coach and general manager Dan Hughes said. “With so many players having outstanding years in 2011, it is truly an honor for them to be selected to represent our conference.”