- NBA fan Jaren Barajas defeated Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard to win $100,000 during a shooting challenge at the All-Star Game. Barajas became the latest sports fan to win big in contests for spectators.
- A college student successfully made a 33-yard field goal for $800,000 in Pat McAfee’s kicking challenge during ESPN’s College Game Day in November.
- Fans at basketball games have been winning big prizes including thousands of dollars, cars and Hawaiian vacations.
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When 18-year-old college student Jaren Barajas banked a half-court shot at the buzzer to win $100,000 at the NBA All-Star Game Sunday, Feb. 16, he not only defeated Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard, he also became the latest sports fan to win during big-prize contests geared to spectators. This challenge in particular was promoted by social media star MrBeast.
Barajas said he wasn’t even supposed to be at the game in San Francisco until his dad surprised him with the tickets the day before. Once at the arena, he was selected out of the stands to play in the contest.
Jaren, the NBA fan that won the @MrBeast $100,000 Challenge, talks about how it all came together! #NBAAllStar https://t.co/uS9fGQqD0e pic.twitter.com/Jme1yKZB8Q
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2025
Replacement kicker wins Pat McAfee’s contest
Barajas called the series of events “surreal.” But over the past several weeks and months, a lucky group of sports fans have had the chance to experience similar situations where they had all that pressure on their shoulders with one shot at winning big.
In November 2024, during ESPN’s College Game Day, University of Georgia student Belle Sessions won the raffle to participate in Pat McAfee’s kicking contest. Sessions, not confident of her kicking skills, passed the pressure onto someone else standing next to her in the crowd: a fellow student named Henry Silver. He had just one opportunity to kick a 33-yard field goal and win $800,000 to split between himself, Sessions and charity.
And one kick was all he needed.
It turned out to be a smart move by Belle Sessions to find Henry Silver. It was also a smart move for some lucky basketball fans just showing up to the game.
Basketball fans net top prizes including car, vacation
In December 2024, a San Antonio Spurs fan nailed a half-court shot to win $10,000. Then in January 2025, just days apart, two Houston Rockets fans scored $25,000 each by winning the four-level challenge — scoring a layup, a free throw, a three-point shot, and a half-court shot. (The second fan got a little overzealous in his celebration and took down the team mascot!)
Then, there was the New York Knicks fan who won a brand new car by banking in his half-court shot. He also got a congratulatory hug from actor Ben Stiller.
An Oklahoma City Thunder fan, 19-year-old University of Oklahoma student Jake Amy, became $20,000 richer with his half-court heroics, becoming the 24th fan to do so since the contest opened in 2008 in Oklahoma City.
Earlier in February 2025, a Cleveland Cavaliers fan hit a half-court shot for $10,000.
Over at Siena College in New York, it was as much fan Joe Rice winning the “Free Beer for a Year” shooting contest as much as his victory dance that led to his appearance on Scott Van Pelt’s ESPN broadcast.
And during the week of Feb. 10, a Los Angeles Clippers fan scored from half-court to win a trip to Hawaii.
NBA gives back after All-Star contest
As for that big All-Star Game contest win, along with the $100,000 Barajas is taking home, the NBA said it will be donating $100,000 to charity. The league will donate $50,000 to Oakland, California native Damian Lillard’s scholarship fund benefitting nine high schools in the East Bay and another $50,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oakland and San Francisco.
