East Bay teen wins $100K after beating Damian Lillard in All-Star Game 3-point shooting contest

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The 2025 NBA All-Star Game at Chase Center was filled with unforgettable moments, but for one East Bay teenager, it was a life-changing night. Eighteen-year-old Jaren Barajas, a college baseball player from Oakley walked away from the star-studded event with $100,000 after sinking a dramatic half-court shot in a fan challenge against Milwaukee Bucks point guard and Oakland's own Damian Lillard.

On the baseball field at Los Medanos College, where Barajas plays second base for the Mustangs, practice was business as usual Monday except for Barajas, who was still processing the surreal experience.

"It was a long night," Barajas said. "It was hard to get up, didn't get much sleep."

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Barajas, who attended the All-Star Game with his father, Michael, was randomly selected from the crowd by a member of YouTube superstar MrBeast's team, to take on Lillard in a high-stakes shooting contest.

"It was such a surreal moment," Barajas recalled.

The rules were simple: Barajas had to make one half-court shot before Lillard hit three. His father, who had surprised him with game tickets the night before, had one piece of advice. "No matter what comes your way, don't be shy, have fun, and see what happens," Michael Barajas said.

A lifelong basketball fan who once played competitively in middle school, Barajas felt confident in his shot.

"I usually like shooting from behind the three-point line," he said. "It's usually more fun for me."

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But as Lillard quickly made his first shot, Barajas struggled to find his rhythm. His shots were slight off and the pressure mounted as the crowd reacted with disappointment. Even former NBA star Kenny Smith chimed in with advice: "Visualize before it goes in... then it goes in."

Moments later, Lillard sank his second basket. With time running out, NBA legends Stephen Curry could be seen making a gesture signaling only a few seconds left. Shaquille O'Neal also stepped in to offer encouragement.

As the buzzer sounded, Barajas made one final attempt. The ball soared through the air and swished through the net, sending the Chase Center crowd into a frenzy.

"This is surreal," Barajas said in his post-shot interview. "I can't thank anybody else but my dad. Thank you for the opportunity!"

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With confetti falling and $100,000 in prize money secured, Barajas was encouraged to jump into the box filled with cash.

When asked what he'll do with his new found foretune?

"I'm definitely going to save a lot of it, help my family out, and it'll help pay for college tuition once I move to a four-year after this," he said.

His father has other ideas.

"He's good! He doesn't have to give anything to us," Michael Barajas smiled. "We just want to support him in every way we can."

Barajas said his phone has been blowing up all day long with friends, family and former coaches offering their congratulations. He hopes to one day graduate with a major in business and perhaps pursue a career in business and sports.