The Three-Point Contest [1] is a National Basketball Association (NBA) contest held on the Saturday before the annual All-Star Game as part of All-Star Weekend.
The 2019 iteration of the contest involved ten participants. From its introduction in 1986 to 2018, eight participants were selected to participate in each season's shootout. In 2002-2003 to 2012-2013 there were six participants. Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers is the most recent winner of the event which was held at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
In this contest, participants attempt to make as many three-point field goals as possible from five positions behind the three-point line in one minute. Players begin shooting from one corner of the court, and move from station to station along the three-point arc until they reach the other corner. [2] At each shooting station is a rack with five basketballs. Out of the five balls, four are worth one point (the standard orange Wilson game balls) and the fifth one (a red/white/blue ABA-style ball; often nicknamed the "money ball") [3] [4] is worth two points. The goal of this contest is to score as many points as possible within one minute. A perfect score used to be 30 points. [5] [6] Since the 2014 contest, a rack consisting only of "money balls" has been added, and can be placed on any of the 5 spots of the player's choice, bringing up the maximum possible score to 34 points. [7] In the 2020 contest, two additional Mountain Dew shots were placed on each side of the top of the key, worth three points each. This increased the maximum possible score to 40, and the time limit was increased from 60 to 70 seconds. [8]
In the qualifying round, each player has a chance to score as many points as possible. The three players with the top scores advance to the finals. The final round is played in the same way as the qualifying round, but players shoot according to the ascending order of their first-round scores. In each round, the shots and the score are confirmed by the referee and the television instant replay system. [4] [9] The final round will be shot in reverse direction (left to right corner for a left-handed shooter and vice versa). In the case of a tie, multiple extra rounds of 30 seconds (1 minute in the final) are played to determine the winner.
Rank | Player | Times |
---|---|---|
1 | Larry Bird | 3 |
Craig Hodges | 3 | |
3 | Peja Stojaković | 2 |
Jeff Hornacek | 2 | |
Mark Price | 2 | |
Jason Kapono | 2 | |
Stephen Curry | 2 |
^ | Denotes players who are still active |
* | Elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame |
Player (#) | Denotes the number of times the player has won |
Team (#) | Denotes the number of times a player from this team has won |
Location (#) | Denotes the number of times a location has hosted the competition |
Three Point Contest champions by franchise
No. | Franchise | Last win |
---|---|---|
4 | Miami Heat | 2011 |
4 | Boston Celtics | 2010 |
4 | Chicago Bulls | 1997 |
3 | Golden State Warriors | 2021 |
3 | Sacramento Kings | 2020 |
3 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2013 |
2 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2022 |
2 | Phoenix Suns | 2018 |
2 | Utah Jazz | 2000 |
1 | Portland Trail Blazers | 2023 |
1 | Brooklyn Nets | 2019 |
1 | Houston Rockets | 2017 |
1 | San Antonio Spurs | 2014 |
1 | Toronto Raptors | 2008 |
1 | Dallas Mavericks | 2006 |
1 | Denver Nuggets | 2004 |
1 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2001 |
1 | Washington Bullets | 1996 |
1 | Seattle SuperSonics | 1989 |
Player (in bold text) | Indicates the winner of the contest |
Player (#) | Denotes the number of times the player has been in the contest |
|
|
Season | Sponsor |
---|---|
1985–86 | American Airlines |
1986–87 | American Airlines, Sheraton |
1987–88 | American Airlines, Sheraton |
1988–89 | American Airlines, Sheraton |
1989–90 | American Airlines, Sheraton |
1990–91 | American Airlines, Sheraton |
1991–92 | American Airlines, Sheraton |
1992–93 | American Airlines, Sheraton |
1993–94 | AT&T |
1994–95 | AT&T |
1993–94 | AT&T |
1994–95 | AT&T |
1995–96 | AT&T |
1996–97 | AT&T |
1997–98 | AT&T |
1998–99 | AT&T |
1999–2000 | AT&T |
2000–01 | 1-800-CALL-ATT |
2000–01 | 1-800-CALL-ATT |
2001–02 | 1-800-CALL-ATT |
2002–03 | 1-800-CALL-ATT |
2003–04 | Footlocker |
2004–05 | Footlocker |
2005–06 | Footlocker |
2006–07 | Footlocker |
2007–08 | Footlocker |
2008–09 | Footlocker |
2009–10 | Footlocker |
2010–11 | Footlocker |
2011–12 | Footlocker |
2012–13 | Footlocker |
2013–14 | Footlocker |
2014–15 | Footlocker |
2015–16 | Footlocker |
2016–17 | JBL |
2017–18 | JBL |
2018–19 | Mountain Dew |
2019–20 | Mountain Dew |
2020–21 | Mountain Dew |
2021–22 | Mountain Dew |
2022–23 | Starry |
Elton Tyron Brand is an American former professional basketball player and the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing college basketball for Duke, he was selected with the first overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, and later played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks. He was a two-time NBA All Star and an All-NBA Second Team selection in 2006.
Joe Marcus Johnson is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Iso Joe", he played high school basketball for Little Rock Central High School and college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. After two years with Arkansas, he declared for the 2001 NBA draft where he was drafted 10th overall by the Boston Celtics.
Craig Anthony Hodges is an American former professional basketball player and former head coach of the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League. He played in the NBA for 10 seasons and led the league in 3-point shooting percentage three times. He won two NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, and along with Larry Bird, is one of only two players to win three consecutive Three Point Contests at the National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend, winning the competition in 1990, 1991, and 1992. Hodges also holds the Three Point Contest records for the most consecutive shots made with 19, set in 1991, and the most points scored in a single round at 25, set in 1986. He was later a head coach at Chicago State University, an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and head coach of the Halifax Rainmen of the National Basketball League of Canada.
Dorell Lawrence Wright is an American former professional basketball player. Wright was drafted in the 2004 NBA draft by the Miami Heat directly out of high school. He has also played for the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers. He has previously led the league in three-pointers made, and was selected to participate in the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2011.
Jason Alan Kapono is an American former professional basketball player. He was the first National Basketball Association (NBA) player to lead the league in three-point field goal percentage in two consecutive seasons, and he also won the Three-Point Contest twice. He won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.
The 2008 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 17, 2008, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2007–08 season. It was the 57th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, home of the New Orleans Hornets. The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 134–128. LeBron James was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, his second time winning the award. This was the first NBA All-Star Game that was hosted by New Orleans, and was the city's first major professional sporting event since the area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The city was awarded in an announcement by commissioner David Stern on May 22, 2006. The other reported contenders for the 2008 contest was Air Canada Centre at Toronto, who withdrew the bid early in 2005.
The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 15, 2009, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2008–09 season. It was the 58th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the Phoenix Suns. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 146–119. The West's Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were named joint winners of the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. This was the third time that Phoenix had hosted the All-Star Game; the city had previously hosted the event in 1975 and 1995. Phoenix was awarded the All-Star Game in an announcement by commissioner David Stern on November 8, 2007. The other reported contenders for the 2009 contest were Air Canada Centre at Toronto, Madison Square Garden at New York City, Oracle Arena at Oakland and Bradley Center at Milwaukee.
Marco Stefano Belinelli is an Italian professional basketball player and the team captain for Virtus Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He was selected 18th overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. In 2014, he won the NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the first Italian player to do so. He won the Three-Point Contest during the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend. He played in the 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 editions of the FIBA EuroBasket and the 2006 and 2019 editions of the FIBA World Championship with the Italian national basketball team.
Almario Vernard "Mario" Chalmers is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Zamboanga Valientes of the ASEAN Basketball League. He was selected as the 34th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves after playing three seasons of college basketball for the University of Kansas. Chalmers was named the 2006–07 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament after winning the 2008 NCAA championship.
Clinton "Trey" Johnson III is an American-Qatari former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball with the Alcorn State Braves and the Jackson State Tigers in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). During his senior year, he won the SWAC Player of the Year award. He has spent much of his professional career with the Bakersfield Jam in the NBA Development League, a minor league basketball organization owned and run by the National Basketball Association (NBA). During his time in the D-League, he received a call-up to the NBA and has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers. He has also spent several short stints overseas in Serbia, France, and Italy. He has represented Qatar in international competition.
The 2010 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 14, 2010, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2009–10 season. It was the 59th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 141–139. The East's Dwyane Wade, who recorded 28 points on 75% shooting, 11 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 steals, was named as the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. This was the second time that the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area had hosted the All-Star Game; the area had previously hosted the event in 1986. Dallas was awarded the 2010 All-Star Game in an announcement by commissioner David Stern on October 30, 2008.
The 2009 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant was named NBA Finals MVP.
The 1953 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on January 13, 1953, at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, home of the Fort Wayne Pistons. The game was the third edition of the National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game and was played during the 1952–53 NBA season. The Western All-Stars team defeated the Eastern All-Stars team 79–75. This was the West's first ever win over the East. Minneapolis Lakers' George Mikan, who led the West with 22 points and 16 rebounds, was named as the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 1,230-game regular season began on October 27, 2009, and ended on April 14, 2010. The season ended when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics four games to three to win their second consecutive NBA championship in the 2010 NBA Finals.
The 2012 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 26, 2012, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2011–12 season. It was the 61st edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, home of the Orlando Magic. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 152–149. Kevin Durant was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.
Marquis Devante Teague is an American professional basketball player who last played for Kolossos Rodou of the Greek Basket League. He was one of the top-rated high school basketball players in the class of 2011.
The 2013 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 17, 2013, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2012–13 season. It was the 62nd edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at Toyota Center in Houston, home of the Houston Rockets. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 143–138. Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. The Rockets were awarded the All-Star Game in an announcement by commissioner David Stern on February 8, 2012. This was the third time that Houston had hosted the All-Star Game; the city had previously hosted the event in 1989 at the Astrodome and 2006 at the Toyota Center.
The NBA D-League All-Star Game was an annual exhibition basketball game held by the NBA Development League (D-League). The D-League was founded in 2001 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) and later as the NBA Development League. The league, now known as the NBA G League, serves as the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization.
Reginald Shon Jackson, nicknamed Big Government, is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played three seasons for the Boston College Eagles before declaring for the 2011 NBA draft, where he was drafted 24th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.