The NBA 3-Point Contest Should Be The Best Event Of The Weekend

Alright, now we're talking! 

I may be in the minority here, but I'm someone who for a long time has been in the camp of the 3P contest > Dunk contest. There's just nothing like watching the best shooters in the world go around the arc and never miss. I could watch NBA players take practice 3PA for hours and never get tired of it. For example, you're telling me you don't click and watch every single viral Steph Curry video where he goes like 100 for 101 from deep?

Of course you do! Elite shooting rules.

I also find there's way more drama involved in the 3P contest compared to the dunk contest, at least as of late. Once Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine stopped doing the dunk contest, it's obviously fallen off. But the 3P contest always has the juice in my opinion. 

So looking at this year's field, it appears we're going to be getting more of the same. That's a much more impressive group than what we're seeing in the Dunk Contest, and if you're curious how everyone is doing from deep this season, let's have a look

Jayson Tatum - 35% (9.3 3PA)

Kevin Huerter - 39% (6.7 3PA)

Tyler Herro - 36.9% (8.1 3PA)

Tyrese Haliburton - 39.8% (7.3 3PA)

Buddy Hield - 42.3% (9.0 3PA)

Damian Lillard - 37.5% (11.0 3PA)

Anfernee Simons - 38.1% (9.3 3PA)

Lauri Markkanen - 41.2% (7.4 3PA)

I have to be honest, I'm not sure why Jayson Tatum is in this thing. His outside shot has been pretty broken this year, and I'm not convinced his fucked up wrist isn't playing a role, but he's also not really a spot up shooter. Now if this was Sam Hauser? Just crown the man. I would be shocked if he won the whole thing, mostly because I don't consider him a "pure" shooter like some of the names on this list. There's obviously a difference in game shooting and 3P contest shooting, but who knows, maybe this could be something that helps Tatum get out of his slump.

In terms of the rest? It's hard to complain. These are some of the most dead-eye shooters the league has. What I like about this group is there's only one repeat winner (Hield, 2019-20), and since there are no Splash Brother this time around it's not like we're going into this contest already knowing who is going to win. It wouldn't shock me if anyone outside of Tatum and maybe Herro won this thing, and my instant gut feeling tells me to ride with Red Velvet, but at the same time Baby Dirk's season has been so insane for UTA that maybe the home cooking gets it done. He does know those rims better than anyone else on this list.

I know the league always ends with the Dunk Contest, but I think they should switch it up. End with the 3P Contest instead. Also while we're at it, scrap the Skills Challenge and try something else. Who even watches that anymore? I'll take a 3 on 3 event or something, maybe King of the Court? Wake up Adam, save your All Star weekend.

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Who knows though, maybe I'll be proven wrong and Tatum will have his own Larry Bird moment. Can't say I'd hate that at all