The first All-Star game was back in 1951 in Boston, following the wake of a college basketball scandal that shook the basketball world by storm, influencing the public’s perception of the sport and its players. That 1951 game was conceived as a public relations move to reassert basketball as a positive spectacle for the public.
It blows my mind to think that it took 35 years for NBA authorities, who always remain eager to provide a more attractive product for fans, to think of something so simple and so enjoyable as a three-point contest.
Of the multiple All-Star Weekend events –the All-Star game, the slam dunk contest, etc– many fans of the sport will agree that the Three-Point Contest is their favorite one to watch. There is something inherently poetic and attractive about watching a professional basketball player launch a ball from long distance into a small target. It is beautiful, and the nature of the contest also adds excitement.
The format has been altered over the years, especially in terms of how many total points are possible, which includes how many “money” balls there are. We get to see this year, again, the inclusion of two deep shot locations, so we get to see more long-distance bombs. As NBA officials continually look to increase the excitement factor in All-Star three-point contests for fans, we have a lot to look forward to when placing our NBA bets.
But let’s not forget and let’s not neglect to appreciate what we have already gotten to experience in the past. There have been a lot of legends to participate in this contest, and a lot of amazing moments have taken place that will forever be etched in the minds of NBA viewers.
Before we get to five of my favorite moments, let’s think about what makes a top moment.
Criteria
The Three-Point Contest is meant to be exciting, to provide an entertaining spectacle for fans. So, a top-five moment should certainly be exciting.
But, given the span of years we are looking at, a top-five moment should be historic in some fashion. Something besides the fact that it is entertaining should make it memorable in the long term.
Top-five moments will be both entertaining and historic in some meaningful way.
5 A Center Makes History (2022)
A center had never won a Three-Point Contest before. We instinctively know why: it is less likely that a seven-footer who specializes in something as physical and arduous as earning rebounds can shoot well. We associate good shooting rather with finesse.
But Karl-Anthony Towns befuddled minds – certainly the minds of oddsmakers, who had him as the biggest underdog in the field – when he changed that history in 2022.
In 2022, Towns became the first center to win the Three-Point Contest. He also really deserved this accolade because he had to edge out some difficult competition, including shooting guard Luke Kennard, by obtaining a high number: he dropped a very impressive 29 points in the final round.
4 Never Forget Sharpshooter Jason Kapono (2008)
Jason Kapono scored 29 of 30 points in his practice round for the three-point contest.
Kapono ended up winning the 2008 NBA Three-Point Contest. pic.twitter.com/1mNyfp2kXk
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) February 19, 2023
Better than Klay Thompson, better than Joe Harris, Jason Kapono is one of those players from yesteryear who would still be respected in today’s modern NBA. Kapono is one of the most accurate three-point shooters of all time.
He delivered upon his reputation in Three-Point Contest renditions, winning the competition in 2007 and 2008.
His 2008 three-point performance is particularly memorable. In the final round of that year’s contest, his output was historic given the format back then. He earned 25 out of 30 possible points. Every player who has exceeded 25 points in a round did so with a format that allowed over 30 possible points.
3 Steph Curry Is So Clutch (2021)
Steph Curry is another sharpshooting legend who deserves a mention in Three-Point Contest lore.
Despite Curry being known as perhaps the best three-point shooter of all time, Mike Conley was able to put serious pressure on him especially by draining four of five “money” balls.
It took the final shot for Curry to edge him out. The fact that it came down to the final shot and that Curry converted it shows just how clutch Curry can be.
2 Larry Legend Is Too Cool (1988)
In 1988, Larry Bird won a historic third straight Three-Point Contest, after which he retired from the event.
He certainly proved his point, not only given the fact that he won his third straight, but also how he did it. Besides his characteristic trash-talking, he distinguished himself by sporting a warm-up jacket.
Winning this contest while wearing a warm-up jacket is pretty crazy. It sent a powerful message about how easy this contest to him. Larry is, after all, a legend.
1 Can Craig Hodges Miss? (1991)
Craig Hodges made history in 1991 by making his first 19 three-point shots. This is not a typo! The shooting streak is simply mind-blowing. For comparison’s sake, fellow legend Steph Curry has “only” made 13 in a row.
Hodges, of course, did not make 19 in a row from the same spot. He had to move spots to access additional racks. Despite his movement and despite altering his shot location, he stayed hot. “Hot” is not strong enough of a word to describe 19 consecutive made shots.
It must have been so exciting to watch live his made shot streak continue. Fans really got a prolonged dose of unique excitement, making this historic effort from the three-time three-point champion worthy of the top spot in our rankings.
