A transformative moment will forever remain etched in the memory of 18-year-old college student Jaren Barajas, who can now proudly say he triumphed over a seasoned NBA All-Star in a 3-point shooting contest. Barajas emerged victorious in the “MrBeast Logo Shot Challenge” on Sunday night, sinking a deep shot that not only outperformed Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard but also earned him a prize of $100,000. “This means the world to me; it’s going to significantly help my family and definitely my future,” Barajas stated. “I hope it will assist in funding my education, which it will.”
In the contest, Barajas needed to make just one shot from long range, while Lillard had the challenge of hitting three logo three-pointers. As the clock ticked down, Barajas launched a shot just as the buzzer sounded, and the multi-colored ball swished through the net. The ball ricocheted off the backboard before going in, proving that, as the saying goes, the bank was open—and it filled Barajas’ own bank account in the process.
“It was coming down to the wire, we had 30 seconds left, and my dad always tells me, ‘Use the backboard,’” Barajas explained. “That’s what I had to do to make it go in.” Interestingly, Barajas was unaware he was heading to the Chase Center to witness the 2025 NBA All-Star Game that night. His father, Michael Barajas, had been searching for affordable ticket prices and seized the opportunity to surprise his son.
“I got surprised with these tickets yesterday, so I didn’t even know I was coming to the game, so to have this experience is so surreal. I’m so thankful,” Jaren expressed. Michael added, “He wanted to go to the game, but the prices were pretty high. I kept watching the prices drop, and once I found them at a price I could afford, I bought them and surprised him. I can’t believe we’re right here, but I’m glad I did it. He deserves it, and I’m proud of him.”
The bank shot is a moment Jaren will always cherish, especially as he celebrated on the court with Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith right after it went in. Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry beamed with joy as the crowd erupted in cheers. Following the contest, Lillard approached Jaren to congratulate him, showering him with dollar bills in the process.