Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton will participate in this weekend’s 3-point contest in addition to the All-Star Game, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The eight-man field will be filled out by four non-All-Stars, according to Charania: Lillard’s Blazers teammate Anfernee Simons, Haliburton’s Pacers teammate Buddy Hield, Heat guard Tyler Herro, and Kings wing Kevin Huerter.
Some of those names had been previously reported, but Charania is the first to reveal all eight participants.
The eight-man field includes just one player who has previously won the event. Hield was the 3-point champion back in 2020 when he was still a member of the Kings. He also has the highest 3PT% of any of this season’s participants at 42.3% — that ranks 11th in the NBA among qualified players in 2022/23, so none of the league’s top 10 shooters are participating.
Last year’s winner, Karl-Anthony Towns, remains sidelined for the Timberwolves due to a calf strain, so he won’t get the chance to defend his title.
Markkanen will be the hometown favorite, with the event scheduled to take place this coming Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Three point contest would be fun to see all the injured players participate one year. Not like it’s contact
Depends on the injury. Shooting threes is still a full-body effort.
What?
Why?? Would rather see retired players
Has anyone ever won both the dunk contest and the 3 point contest in their career? Simons has a chance to do so.
Simons has a quick shot. Maybe the quickest of this group. If he’s hot, the basket is an ocean, but if he is cold…
Lillard participated in all events one year
I think Zach Lavine might have come the closest.
No Isaiah Joe
Hauser, and Nesmith have also been good from 3 this season.
Need an All-Star weekend A, and All-Star weekend B to showcase all the talent the NBA has to offer.
Without either splash brother is it a 3 pt contest?
Maybe you’re just getting old?
Did you get a Life Alert email that made it past your spam filter? Or an offer for Medicare, or medicaid recently?
It happens fast, and when you are not looking!
They are still the best. lliard is the only 1 in the top 30 all time.
And Lillard is not a spot up shooter, not expecting too much from him, but he is a star, and anything can happen if he gets hot.
The only all star Saturday event that the star players actually care enough about to participate.
Red Velvet!
No Ben?
eliminate the corner shot
put the line at 35 feet and let’s see who has bigtime range
Let’s go Red Velvet
Glad they have some variety of sized players. Hield and Huerter are probably the purest 3-point shooters. Although, could see any of these guys getting hot. Markkanen does have the hometown advantage. We’ll see what happens. =)
If your last name starts with “H”, you’re in!