The NBA All-Star Weekend’s Quest for Star Power and Competition
The NBA All-Star Weekend is a unique spectacle, a three-day celebration of the game’s biggest stars and the most skilled players in the league. However, in recent years, the league has been grappling with the challenge of maintaining excitement and competitiveness, particularly for events like the 3-Point Contest. While the Skill Challenge and Slam Dunk Contest have their moments, the 3-Point Contest has emerged as a consistent highlight, offering thrilling displays of marksmanship and intense competition. The NBA hopes that the 2025 version of the contest will continue to draw fans and keep the weekend engaging.
Details of the 2025 NBA 3-Point Contest
The 2025 NBA 3-Point Contest is scheduled to take place on February 15, as part of All-Star Saturday Night. This year’s event will be held at the Chase Center in San Francisco, the home arena of the Golden State Warriors. The contest will be broadcast live on TNT starting at 8 p.m. Eastern, offering fans across the country a front-row seat to this precision shooting showdown. The Chase Center, known for its modern amenities and electric atmosphere, promises to add an extra layer of excitement to the event, as the Warriors’ fan base is renowned for its passion and energy.
A Stacked Field of Competitors
The 2025 3-Point Contest boasts a lineup of some of the league’s most accurate shooters. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s competitors based on their current 3-point shooting percentages:
- Norman Powell (Clippers): 43.1%
- Darius Garland (Cavaliers): 42.9%
- Cameron Johnson (Nets): 41.7%
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks): 39.7%
- Tyler Herro (Heat): 39.3%
- Damian Lillard (Bucks): 37.9%
- Buddy Hield (Warriors): 37.1%
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons): 35.4%
Each of these players brings a unique style and a proven track record of success from beyond the arc. Norman Powell, known for his clutch shooting, leads the pack with an impressive 43.1% accuracy. Darius Garland and Cameron Johnson, both highly skilled guards, are not far behind, adding to the competitive fire. Jalen Brunson and Tyler Herro, both key players for their respective teams, bring a mix of speed and accuracy. Damian Lillard, the two-time defending champion, is a fan favorite and a proven winner. Buddy Hield, a Warriors sharpshooter, adds local flair to the contest, and Cade Cunningham, despite a slightly lower percentage, brings youthful energy and the potential for a surprise performance.
Last Year’s Winner: Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard, currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, has been the king of the 3-Point Contest in recent years. He won the contest in 2023 and 2024, and he is aiming to become the third player in NBA history to win the contest three consecutive times. The only players to achieve this feat are Larry Bird and Craig Hodges. Bird, the quintessential sharpshooter of the 1980s, won the first three contests ever held, famously declaring, "Which one of you is coming in second" before one of his victories. Hodges, a key player for the Chicago Bulls in the Michael Jordan era, also won three consecutive titles, showcasing his incredible consistency and accuracy. Lillard’s pursuit of this prestigious triple crown adds an exciting narrative to the 2025 contest, as fans will be watching to see if he can make history.
The Absence of Curry vs. Ionescu
One of the most anticipated moments of the 2024 All-Star Weekend was the special shootout between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu, which stole the show in Indianapolis. However, this year, there will be no rematch. According to Mike Bass, the NBA’s spokesman, the league was unable to devise a plan that would raise the bar from last year’s special moment. Originally, there were discussions about expanding the event to include Curry and former teammate Klay Thompson, along with Ionescu and Caitlin Clark, a wildly popular WNBA star. However, Clark, through her representatives at Excel Sports, declined the invitation, stating, "Caitlin will not be at NBA All-Star. She wants her first three-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis this summer." With Clark’s participation off the table, the event was canceled, much to the disappointment of fans who were hoping to see another thrilling shootout.
The Format of the NBA 3-Point Contest
The format of the 3-Point Contest remains unchanged from previous years, ensuring a familiar and competitive structure. The contest is divided into two rounds. In the first round, all eight shooters have 70 seconds to make as many of the 27 balls as possible. The balls are arranged in five racks positioned around the 3-point line: two in the corners, two on the wings, and one straight on. Each rack contains four regular NBA balls, which count for one point, and one multi-colored "money ball," which counts for two points. One of the racks, chosen by the shooter, contains five money balls, all worth two points. Additionally, there are two "Starry Range" deep shots, each worth three points. The three players with the highest scores in the first round advance to the second round. The second round follows the same format, and the highest scorer in the final round wins the contest. Last year, the highest score in any round was 26, a mark that Sabrina Ionescu also matched during her shootout with Curry, demonstrating the high level of skill required to excel in this event.
A Look Back at Past Winners
The 3-Point Contest has a rich history, with some of the greatest shooters in NBA history etching their names in the record books. Here’s a list of the contest winners over the last 25 years:
- 2024: Damian Lillard (Bucks)
- 2023: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
- 2022: Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)
- 2021: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
- 2020: Buddy Hield (Kings)
- 2019: Joe Harris (Nets)
- 2018: Devin Booker (Suns)
- 2017: Eric Gordon (Rockets)
- 2016: Klay Thompson (Warriors)
- 2015: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
- 2014: Marco Belinelli (Spurs)
- 2013: Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers)
- 2012: Kevin Love (Timberwolves)
- 2011: James Jones (Heat)
- 2010: Paul Pierce (Celtics)
- 2009: Daequan Cook (Heat)
- 2008: Jason Kapono (Raptors)
- 2007: Jason Kapono (Raptors)
- 2006: Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks)
- 2005: Quentin Richardson (Suns)
- 2004: Voshon Lenard (Nuggets)
- 2003: Peja Stojakovic (Kings)
- 2002: Peja Stojakovic (Kings)
- 2001: Ray Allen (Bucks)
- 2000: Jeff Hornacek (Jazz)
This list highlights the diverse array of talent that has participated in the contest over the years, from the legendary Curry and Lillard to sharpshooters like Ray Allen and Peja Stojakovic. Each winner has left a lasting impression, and the 2025 contest is poised to add another chapter to this storied event.
