Teen wins $100K for beating NBA star Damian Lillard in 3-point challenge
FILE-Jaren Barajas shoots a half court shot during the 74th NBA All-Star Game at Chase Center on February 16, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
An 18-year-old college student’s life changed forever when he walked away with $100,000 after winning a 3-point contest during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night in San Francisco.
On the world’s biggest stage, Jaren Barajas drained a 3-point shot and miraculously beat Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard in the competition.
Barajas called the moment "life-changing," the Associated Press reported.
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What they're saying:
"This is going to mean the world to me, it's going to help my family a lot and definitely my future," Barajas said, via the Associated Press. "Hopefully it'll help me pay for my education, which it will."
Meanwhile, Lillard enjoyed the unbelievable finish. "It was dramatic, he made it as the clock was going off," said Lillard, an Oakland native. "I love being part of stuff like that where you can impact somebody else."
RELATED: Bay Area teen wins $100K for winning a shot against NBA star Damian Lillard
The teen won a MrBeast challenge after knocking down the long-distance shot as time expired to beat Lillard.
Barajas, a graduate of Freedom High School in Oakley, California in 2024, was randomly picked from the crowd to take part in the 3-point competition.
Lillard had to knock down three long-range 3 point shots for the win, while Barajas only needed to make one shot from half court — and with time running out and Lillard having missed after it was announced that those shots would be the final attempts by Lillard and Barajas, the teen hit the winning shot.
Former Golden State Warriors star Baron Davis came by to congratulate Jaren, while many strangers cheered him and asked for photos.
Barajas is a freshman studying business at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, California.
Local perspective:
The AP reported that the NBA is planning to donate $50,000 to Oakland Lillard's new scholarship fund benefitting nine high schools in the East Bay area and $50,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland and San Francisco.