At NBA All-Star Weekend, each member of the winning team at the Rising Stars Challenge receives $25,000. Rising Stars MVP Bennedict Mathurin led his team to victory, but his prize money will apparently be rerouted to a member of a losing team.
During the first game of the tournament-style competition, a court microphone picked up the Pacers guard offering up a $25,000 wager with anyone on the opposing team. The bet? Mathurin, who had just stepped to the line, said he'd ice the game with a pair of free throws that would bring his team to its target score of 40 points.
Mathurin missed both.
Many viewers wondered if the offer was legitimate and if anyone took him up on it. Mathurin answered those questions after the game.
MORE: Bennedict Mathurin leads Team Jalen to Rising Stars Challenge victory
Bennedict Mathurin loses $25,000 bet to Paolo Banchero
Bennedict Mathurin had a bet with Paolo Banchero for $25,000 that he’ll finish the game with free throws
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) February 17, 2024
He ended up missing both 😂 pic.twitter.com/AITXH06xsX
The wager would be a relatively small price to pay for Mathurin, who, on the next offensive possession, secured the first win for his team with a fadeaway followed by a celebratory dance. Mathurin finished the first game with 18 of his team's 40 points.
Mathurin called GAME.
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2024
The Pacer ends it in his home arena 👏
Team Jalen advances to the #PaniniRisingStars Championship. pic.twitter.com/XcVRDBIC5Z
Mathurin's scoring slowed down in the second game, but he earned MVP honors for his role in consistently electrifying his home fans. After the game, he doubled down on his bet and vowed to pay what he owes.
"Yeah, I owe [Paolo]," Mathurin told TNT Sports' trio of Adam Lefkoe, Candace Parker, and Jamal Crawford. "[Hitting the game winner] was the only way for me to redeem myself — I mean, a bet is a bet.
"I didn't think I was going to miss the free throws — I'm going to be honest — but I respect my word."
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Fortunately — or unfortunately — for Mathurin, he won't need to dip too far into any savings accounts to pay up since he can simply reroute his payday as a member of the Rising Stars champion.
For Banchero, it could be the beginning of a lucrative weekend, as he'll look to compete for more prizes on Saturday Night and in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game. Mathurin could also get even on Saturday when he and his Pacers teammates face Banchero's Top Picks team in the Skills Challenge.
