The NBA’s 2023 three-point contest will take place on Saturday night as part of All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City.
The league’s announcement of this year’s participants resulted in a few raised eyebrows, since none of the eight players who will take part in the contest ranked among the top 10 shooters in the league – based on 3PT% – when they were selected.
Sharpshooters like Isaiah Joe (45.2%) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (45.0%) were among the league leaders not believed to have received an invite, while stars like Stephen Curry (42.7%) and Desmond Bane (42.7%) presumably turned down invitations.
The NBA’s picks for the event reflect the league’s focus on stars over role players and its preference for volume three-point shooters over those who have high percentages but only attempt three or four shots per game from beyond the arc. The resulting field is as follows:
- Buddy Hield (Pacers): 42.6% on 9.0 attempts per game
- Lauri Markkanen (Jazz): 41.2% on 7.4 attempts per game
- Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers): 39.9% on 7.2 attempts per game
- Kevin Huerter (Kings): 39.2% on 6.8 attempts per game
- Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers): 37.2% on 11.2 attempts per game
- Tyler Herro (Heat): 36.9% on 8.1 attempts per game
- Jayson Tatum (Celtics): 35.7% on 9.3 attempts per game
- Julius Randle (Knicks): 33.8% on 8.0 attempts per game
- Note: Randle is an injury replacement for Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons.
None of the eight players taking part in this year’s event participated in last year’s three-point contest, so there won’t be anyone defending his title — last year’s champion, Karl-Anthony Towns, is on the shelf due to a calf injury.
There is one former champion in the field, however, as well as two other players who have competed in this event in the past. Lillard and Tatum have each been in previous contests, while Hield took home the hardware in 2020.
The highest-percentage shooter among this year’s eight-man group, Hield is the co-favorite to win this year’s event, along with Lillard, per BetOnline.ag. Huerter has the third-best odds, followed by Herro and Haliburton. Tatum and Markkanen are tied for the second-worst odds, while Randle is a significant underdog.
But the three-point contest is unpredictable, since one well-timed hot streak – or poorly-timed cold stretch – can be the difference between winning and losing. So we want to know what you think.
Who will win this year’s three-point contest? Do you expect one of the favorites to come out victorious, or are you riding with an underdog?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section to share your thoughts!
Does anyone actually care about the 3pt and dunk contest anymore? I’m seriously asking. I haven’t watched it in at least 10 years.
Lol your name is unreal lol
The All-Star weekend is a joke now. Its used to be sort of nostalgic, and was fun in the late 80’s- to early 90’s.
Now its just players acting like celebrities all weekend, promoting Hhollywood, and other Hollywood celebrities, awful musicians, then show up on Sunday to play a half hearted scoring onslaught where competition is far from the goal.
Could have made it better showcasing the incredible Athlietic talent of these guys in multiple ways, but its an enshrinement festival dedicated to idolatry, and worship. Not for me.
I feel the same way about the all star game.
Agree totally. And I’ll admit I’m an older fan but they ruined the all-star game years ago.