Who's in NBA All-Star three-point contest? Lillard aims for three-peat

Who’s in NBA All-Star three-point contest? Lillard aims for three-peat

Posted by author February 15, 2025 NBA

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Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard will try to join a shortlist of three-time NBA three-point contest winners Saturday at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.

Lillard won in 2023 and 2024, needing his final shot to go in for the victory in Indianapolis last season.

Larry Bird and Craig Hodges are the only players with three three-point contest titles, and each did it in consecutives years – Bird in 1987, 1988 and 1989 and Hodges in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Lillard will have competition from some of the game’s best long-distance shooters, including Miami’s Tyler Herro, Cleveland’s Darius Garland, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Norman Powell and Golden State’s Buddy Hield.

Here is a look at the 2025 NBA three-point contest participants (stats through Sunday’s games):

Who is in NBA All-Star three-point contest?

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson

Brunson is 31^st in made three-pointers (119) this season and is shooting 39.8% on threes. He has six games with at least five made threes this season, including a season-best seven made triples against New Orleans and Phoenix.

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham

Cunningham’s breakout season has been marked by an increase in offensive output, and over the past two seasons, he has improved his three-point shooting. He is 42^nd in three-pointers made (108) and shooting 35.2% on threes. He is not a high-volume three-point shooter but has made five threes in two games this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland

Garland’s bounce-back season includes a spike in his three-point shooting percentage. He is 11^th in 3-pointers made (151) and eighth in 3-point shooting percentage (43.4%, way above last season’s respectable 37.1%). Garland has also made 7-of-12 3-pointers in clutch situations, defined by the NBA as a game that’s within five points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro

An All-Star for the first time this season, Herro averages career-bests in points per game (23.7) and 3-pointers made per game (3.8) and is near a career-best in 3-point shooting percentage (.388). This season, Herro is fourth in 3-pointers made with 185 and is on pace to break his career high for 3-pointers made in a season (203).

Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield

The 2020 3-point contest winner, Hield is 21^st in 3s made (136) and shooting 37.3% from deep this season. Hield has three games with making seven 3s in 2024-25.

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson

Johnson is 33^rd in 3-pointers made (118) and is shooting 41.8% on 3s, which is 23^rd this season. On Nov 22, Johnson made nine 3s, scoring a season-high 37 points against Philadelphia.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard

Lillard is one of the game’s all-time great 3-point shooters and ranks fourth on the all-time list of made 3s behind Steph Curry, James Harden and Ray Allen. Lillard is one pace to pass Allen next season and join Curry and Harden as the only players with at 3,000 made 3s.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell

Powell has more 3s than James Harden, Klay Thompson and Devin Booker, coming in at No. 15 with 145 triples. He’s also shooting 42.9% which ranks 14^th this season. Powell has produced one of the league’s most enjoyable performances, averaging a career-high 24 points in his 10^th NBA season.

3-point contest odds: Who is the favorite?

Odds courtesy of BetMGM:

Damian Lillard: +375
Darius Garland: +500
Tyler Herro: +500
Buddy Hield: +525
Norman Powell: +525
Jalen Brunson: +750
Cam Johnson: +850
Cade Cunningham: +1200

How to watch the NBA All-Star 3-point contest

All-Star Saturday Night is on TNT and coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with a tip-off show, followed by events beginning at approximately 8 p.m. ET. You can also stream on Sling.

What are the NBA 3-point contest rules?

Ball racks are stationed at five locations around the 3-point line, and four of the racks contain four orange basketballs and one money ball. The orange basketballs are worth one point, and the money ball, which has to be the last ball shot on each rack, is worth two points. The fifth rack will be an all money-ball rack and each competitor gets to choose where this rack will be among the locations. Each money ball on this rack is worth two points. Two pedestals are placed deeper than the 3-point line, edging closer to the center court logo, and each pedestal holds a white basketball. A made shot from deep range is worth 3 points.

Who won 2024 NBA All-Star three-point contest?

Lillard won the 3-point contest in Indianapolis in 2024, needing to make the final shot of the event to edge Atlanta’s Trae Young and win his second consecutive 3-point contest. He also needed to make his final shot to win the event in 2023.

What is prize money for winning three-point contest?

First place: $60,000

Second place: $40,000

Third place: $25,000

Fourth place: $15,000

Fifth place: $15,000

Sixth place: $15,000

Seventh place: $15,000

Eighth place: $10,000

NBA All-Star three-point contest winners by year

2024: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks

2023: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

2022: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

2021: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors

2020: Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings

2019: Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets

2018: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

2017: Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets

2016: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors

2015: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

2014: Marco Belinelli, San Antonio Spurs

2013: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

2012: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

2011: James Jones, Miami Heat

2010: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

2009: Daequan Cook, Miami Heat

2008: Jason Kapono, Toronto Raptors

2007: Jason Kapono, Toronto Raptors

2006: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

2005: Quentin Richardson, Phoenix Suns

2004: Voshon Lenard, Denver Nuggets

2003: Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings

2002: Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings

2001: Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks

2000: Jeff Hornacek, Utah Jazz

1998: Jeff Hornacek, Utah Jazz

1997: Steve Kerr, Chicago Bulls

1996: Tim Legler, Washington Wizards

1995: Glen Rice, Miami Heat

1994: Mark Price, Cleveland Cavaliers

1993: Mark Price, Cleveland Cavaliers

1992: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls

1991: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls

1990: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls

1989: Dale Ellis Seattle SuperSonics

1988: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

1987: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

1986: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics