2Ball

History

2Ball was introduced for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, replacing the Slam Dunk Contest, after the previous year's Dunk Contest was derided as the worst ever, following over a decade of decline in star power and dunk quality.

Each 2Ball team paired an NBA and a WNBA player from the same city. Players attempted shots from one of seven spots on the floor, labeled from 2 to 8 points, for one minute. Teams received a 10-point bonus if they made a shot from each spot, and they received a 10-point penalty for not attempting at least one shot from each spot.

At the 1998 event, Utah's team drew jeers from competitors for a strategy in which the WNBA's Tammi Reiss rebounded all shots, both for herself and teammate Karl Malone. Although Utah's strategy was derided as sexist, Reiss outshot Malone, and Utah made it to the finals, where they lost to Cynthia Cooper and Clyde Drexler of Houston.

After the 1999 All-Star Game was cancelled due to the 1998–99 NBA lockout, 2Ball returned to All-Star Weekend in 2000, as did the Slam Dunk Contest. The winning team split $25,000, the runners-up split $10,000, and the other six teams each split $2,500. Utah, represented by Jeff Hornacek and Natalie Williams, won the 2000 contest, with Hornacek making seven consecutive 7-point shots.

Sacramento won the third and final 2Ball contest in 2001, with Peja Stojakovic and Ruthie Bolton-Holifield splitting the $25,000 prize money.