The 2022 NBA Three-Point Contest takes place Saturday night and features eight participants (betting odds via Chad Smith of Basketball Insiders):
- Luke Kennard (+375)
- Trae Young (+450)
- Patty Mills (+500)
- Desmond Bane (+550)
- Fred VanVleet (+650)
- Zach LaVine (+800)
- CJ McCollum (+800)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (+1000)
There are two rounds in the competition; the three highest scores from the first round advance to the championship round, and the highest scoring competitor in the championship round will become the victor. A first-time winner will be crowned this year, as only Young and LaVine have made prior appearances in the event, this being Young’s second attempt and LaVine’s third.
Each participant gets 70 seconds to attempt a total of 27 shots — five from each of the traditional racks located at the corners, wings, and top-of-the-key, and two “Dew Zone” locations six feet behind the arc. The deep racks feature just one ball each, but they’re worth three points apiece.
Young, VanVleet, Lavine and Towns are all pulling double-duty, as the four players were all selected to the All-Star game. Bane is as well, as he’s a member of Team Isiah for the Rising Stars event.
Going purely by three-point percentage this season, Kennard leads the group at 44.8%, followed by Mills and Bane (41.9%), Towns (40.9%), VanVleet (40.1%), LaVine (39.9%), McCollum (38.9%), and finally Young (38.3%).
However, VanVleet leads all competitors in makes (4.0) and attempts (10.0) per game by a considerable margin — McCollum is second with 3.1 makes and 8.0 attempts.
What do you think? Who will win this year’s Three-Point Contest? Will Towns defy the betting odds and take home the crown? Will LaVine triumph in his third attempt?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
My prediction: one of these players will make more 3pt shots than the other seven, thus being named the winner of the 3pt contest. Who knows though, anything is possible
I’m thinking either LaVine or Bane…Mainly because I’m a Bulls fan, and Bane does have a sweet stroke..LaVine for the experience, and Bane as I honestly thought he’d be an underdog, but a smart choice nontheless…
I honestly cannot believe Kennard is the favorite..
Isn’t Laverne hurt? Why is he messing around with the ASG?
Pulling for Freddy
I thought I would go out on a limb and vote Fred Van Vleet cuz I think he has a smooth truck stroke from the line, then I see he’s the leading vote-getter LOL.
I know some of the other guys can shoot from greater distance but I think Freddy will win this particular competition.
Poll: Who cares about anything related to All Star weekend?
Clearly you care enough to comment about it, right?
Truth is if you don’t care, just don’t read or comment, move along with your life, dude!
I care enough about your horrible punctuation to comment on it.
I don’t care about the game itself. The some-star game and the ridiculous draft were ruined by Stern.
KAT will beat Ice Trae in the final, you can bet on it!
I hope you put some money on that
No Steph? Buddy can’t be bothered to defend his title either? Weak…
That said I’ll take significant + money on Bane
Zach LaVine.
He will become the first player to win the dunk contest and the three point contest.
Love this kid.
Ever since he was drafted I’ve been a fan.
Was take 13th overall just like Kobe, who he reminds me a lot of.
Not saying he’s as good or anything but taken some number in the draft. Came into the league super athletic and inconsistent shooters. Both have worked tirelessly to improve as shooters while still being really athletic. Zach doesn’t have the defence or mentality of Kobe but he has more bounce and is a better shooter. Just love how much he has improved. I think he has more in him too. Next he be pushing for a deep playoff run having never made the post season.
Keep it up Zach love your work
“Better shooter than Kobe” ……. something wrong here.
Uh I mean obviously Kobe is an all-time great and had a career Lavine could only dream of, but if we’re strictly talking about 3 point shooting it’s pretty clear Lavine is superior. More attempts per game and a way better %.
Exactly not a better scorer or finisher. Strictly three point shooting Zach is clearly better.
Isn’t Bryant the all-time leader in field goals missed? By a country mile? Guy was a ball hog.
This is pretty optimistic…laverne is made of glass and can’t stay on the court. Sure he has a great offensive game but it’s one side of the coin.
Comparing him to Kobe is such a false equivalency. Yes zach lavine is also better at being named zach and playin for the Bulls than Kobe was lol. Give me a break!
Such a stupid comment.
I pointed to fair similarities (both drafted 13th, both super athletic entering the league, both have had to work extremely hard to expand their offensive games). As I said Zach has more bounce and is a better shooter but Kobe was a far better player overall, with elite defence, a killer mindset, multiple titles blah blah blah. Not at all saying Zach is as good or anything it’s just they have similarities.
Zach has improved his numbers every season he’s played besides this year where you may think he hasn’t been as good. However he has taken fewer shots, has improved his defence and adjusted to playing with other stars which is something he struggled with in Minny. He’s now finally playing winning basketball and will make the post season for the first time ever. This kid honestly has so much potential and continues to always get better.
I think he will be the first player to win the dunk comp and three point comp, something which has never been done before.
Then I think after that his next goal will be about winning in the playoffs and I fully expect him to one day make the nba finals.
Again he’s not at all near Kobe but he’s got some similarities and I think he’s going to continue to prove people like you wrong
Well that was by far the easiest prediction ever, right?
Can’t believe folks didn’t think the best shooter in the contest wasn’t gonna win, & on top he was dead last in the odds!!! SMH!!!