Feb 15, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Team Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs competes in the skills challenge during All Star Saturday Night ahead of the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Victor Wembanyama Breaks Silence on Controversial Plan

Originally posted on San Antonio Spurs on SI
By Farbod Esnaashari | Last updated Feb 16, 2025 8:55 AM ET

In less than two seasons, Victor Wembanyama has already become one of the most beloved players in the NBA by fans.

However, the 21-year-old phenom made his first NBA blemish during All-Star weekend.

On Saturday night during the NBA All-Star's Skills Challenge, Wembanyama attempted to hack the contest by choosing to deliberately miss shots to increase his overall speed.

It was a decision that was met with heavy boos from fans in the arena and a massive outrage online.

Chris Paul and Victor Wenbanyama found the hack in the Skills Challenge. pic.twitter.com/lP5CzssATS
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) February 16, 2025

Even though fans booed Wembanyama and Chris Paul during the moment, the 21-year-old didn't take it too seriously.

"Was I booed," Wembanyama questioned. "I don't think I was booed. I wasn't booed, right? Chris was."

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama said it was his idea, not Chris Paul’s, to “hack” the Skills Challenge, which led to disqualification.

“Was I booed? I don’t think I was booed. I wasn’t booed, right? Chris was.” pic.twitter.com/SeBHbKqz6y
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 16, 2025

While everyone thought the decision may have been Paul's idea, it turns out that Wembanyama admitted to it being his plan.

“It was a good strategy, but I don't know," Wembanyama said. "It's just not that big a deal.”

Victor Wembanyama said the Team Spurs plan for the Skills competition — which wound up getting them disqualified — was his idea.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 16, 2025

On the surface, it may seem like Wembanyama's strategy is relatively harmless. It's a fun idea to figure out a way to game the system and see if it works. At the same time, the NBA is seriously struggling to get both fans and players to take the All-Star game seriously, and this moment was the exact opposite of that.

Hopefully, Wembanyama can give fans a much better show on Sunday night, during the main All-Star game show.

Victor Wembanyama's Strong Reaction to Major Lakers Trade for Luka Doncic

De'Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama Spearhead Spurs' New Era

Breaking Down San Antonio Spurs After NBA Trade Deadline

This article first appeared on San Antonio Spurs on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: