MrBeast, YouTube’s king of crazy challenges, teamed up with the NBA for something special. It was supposed to be just another fun segment at the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend, a break between Chuck’s Global Stars vs. Kenny’s Young Stars and Shaq’s OGs vs. Candace’s Rising Stars. But what started as just another contest turned into an unforgettable moment—one fan, against all odds, walked away with $100K in front of thousands.

That fan? Jaren Barajas, a college student who found himself up against Damian Lillard, last year’s 3-point contest champion. The challenge? Jaren had to sink a single logo three before Lillard drained three. Against one of the league’s deadliest shooters, the odds were stacked against him. Most expected Dame to make quick work of the challenge, but Jaren had other plans.

With the clock ticking down and Dame still searching for his final finish, Jaren decided to take one last shot. Off the backboard—just the way his dad had always taught him. And it went in.

“It was coming down to the wire, we had 30 seconds left, and my dad always tells me to use the backboard,” Jaren said afterward. “That’s what I had to do to make it go in.” It was his sixth or seventh attempt—neither he nor his dad could remember exactly—but that one shot changed everything.

As the ball dropped through the net, the crowd erupted. NBA legends, mascots, and fans stormed the court, celebrating the moment like it was a game-winner in the Finals. And Jaren leaped straight into a pit of money, his face a mix of disbelief and pure joy.

Who is Jaren Barajas?

Jaren Barajas, an 18-year-old college freshman at Los Medanos College, barely finds time to shoot around these days. With school taking priority, basketball has taken a backseat. “I maybe shoot on my backyard hoop once a month,” he admitted. But that didn’t stop him from sinking the biggest shot of his life. And for him, this moment is bigger than just bragging rights. “It’s life-changing.”

More than just a crazy All-Star Weekend story, this win is a game-changer for Jaren’s future. “This is going to mean the world to me, it’s going to help my family a lot and definitely my future,” he shared.

The $100K prize is a massive boost, especially for a college student. “Hopefully it’ll help me pay for my education, which it will.” For a guy balancing school and life, this unexpected windfall couldn’t have come at a better time.

And here’s the wildest part—Jaren wasn’t even supposed to be at the game. He’d always dreamed of attending the All-Star Weekend at Chase Center but had no idea he’d actually make it.

“I got surprised with these tickets yesterday, so I didn’t even know I was coming to the game,” he said. “So to have this experience, it’s so surreal. I’m so thankful.” Safe to say, he’ll never forget this weekend.

How his dad helped him reach this moment

It all started with a simple plan—Jaren’s dad, Michael Barajas, had been tracking ticket prices, hoping to find something within his budget. Finally, on Saturday, he saw a price he could manage and pulled the trigger. The next day, father and son made their way to the arena from their home in Oakley, just excited to be there.

Then, out of nowhere, Jaren got asked if he wanted to participate in a challenge. Just like that, the night took a turn they never saw coming. After it was all over, Michael fought back tears, barely believing their luck.

“He wanted to go to the game, prices were pretty high, so I kept watching them come down,” Michael shared. “Once I found them where I could afford them, I bought them and surprised him with them yesterday. I can’t believe we’re right here, but I’m glad I did it. He deserves it, and I’m proud of him.”

For Michael, who describes himself as “semi-retired,” seeing his son win was more than just a surreal moment—it was life-changing. He knew the prize money would help Jaren with college and maybe even allow him to give back. “It was all luck, meant to be, I don’t know,” he said. “I can’t believe it.”

And the impact didn’t stop there. The NBA announced that $50,000 would go toward Damian Lillard’s new scholarship fund, which benefits nine high schools in the East Bay. Another $50,000 would be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland and San Francisco, spreading the good fortune even further.

Damian Lillard, for his part, was thrilled with how everything played out. “I knew that it would be a win-win situation,” he said. “I knew that it would be helpful for my scholarship partnership that I just started, and I knew it would be extremely helpful to someone else. That was the reason I did it.”

But Dame made one thing clear—he wasn’t trying to lose. “I went out there, and I made the first two. I’m not going to say I lost on purpose, but I didn’t, I was trying to make the shot, I was trying to get a quality make, I was just happy to see his real excitement. That’s life-changing for somebody.”

Meanwhile, Jaren was still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. With a stunned look on his face, he said what everyone else was thinking: “I just beat Damian Lillard.”