What is the NBA 3-Point Contest?

When the NBA 3-Point Contest was first held in 1986, it joined the All-Star Game and Slam Dunk Contest, helping turn the All-Star Weekend into the exciting three-day festival it is today. In a timed competition, the league’s best shooters try to make as many three-pointers as possible. Keep reading for more details on one of the most fun and fast-paced events of the NBA All-Star Weekend.

• Venue: Vivint Arena (changes yearly)
• Location: Salt Lake City, Utah (changes yearly)
• First Held: 1986
• Most Wins by Player: Larry Bird and Craig Hodges (3 wins each)
• Most Wins by Team: Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls (4 wins each)

History

The NBA 3-Point Contest was first held in 1986, two years after the NBA Slam Dunk Contest was added to the All-Star Weekend. The winner of that very first contest (and the next two iterations) was Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. In a similar fashion to the Dunk Contest, the 3-Point Contest contest has grown in popularity throughout the years and has become a cherished tradition as one of the annual skills events that make up NBA All-Star Saturday Night.

Rules and Regulations

Here are the rules of the NBA 3-Point Contest:

• Eight players take turns attempting to make as many three-point shots in 70 seconds as possible.
• Positioned at different locations along the three-point line are five racks with five balls each.
• Four of the balls on each rack are worth one point each, with the fifth colored ball (“the money ball”) worth two points.
• The fifth rack consists only of “money balls” that are worth two points each. Players can choose which rack they want to be their money ball rack.
• There is also the MTN DEW Zone, an area with two available shots worth three points each that is well beyond the three-point line.
• There are 27 total balls and a maximum possible score for each round of 40 points.
• The three highest-scoring players in the first round advance to the final round, which is scored in an identical manner.
• The player with the highest score in the final round is the winner.

2023 3-Point Contest Players

Eight players are selected by the NBA and given invitations to the 3-Point Contest. Typically, the best shooters in the league are picked. Here are the participants for the 2023 NBA 3-Point Contest:

• Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
• Tyler Herro (Miami Heat)
• Buddy Hield (indiana Pacers)
• Kevin Huerter (Sacramento Kings)
• Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
• Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
• Julius Randle (New York Knicks)
• Jayson Tatum        (Boston Celtics)

*Julius Randle of the New York Knicks will be replacing injured Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers.

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