Which NBA players are set to participate in 3-Point Contest at 2023 NBA All-Star weekend?
The 3-point contest contestants have been named for the 2023 NBA All-Star weekend. This year's All-Star weekend is set to take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, and features an intriguing slate of competitors.
When it comes to the 3-point contest, players have jumped at the opportunity to prove themselves as one of the top shooters in the NBA. Last year's champion was Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Karl-Anthony Towns.
It was a welcome result, as Towns was one of the first notable big men to win the event. Towns isn't back to defend his title this year, meaning that a new champion will be named the league's top shooter.
The field includes: Boston Celtics wing Jayson Tatum, Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, Indiana Pacers guards Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, Portland Trail Blazers guards Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons and Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen.
Sources: NBA 3-Point Contest participants at All-Star Weekend: Boston's Jayson Tatum, Sacramento's Kevin Huerter, Miami's Tyler Herro, Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, Portland's Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons and Utah's Lauri Markkanen.
3-Point Contest field announced for 2023 NBA All-Star Game
The NBA All-Star weekend has a rich history of providing some of the most exciting moments in basketball. While the Slam Dunk contest has had a rich history, the 3-point shooting contest has started to generate plenty of popularity in recent years.
This year's field of contestants is shaping up to be another strong one. Players such as Buddy Hield and Damian Lillard have shown they can be competitive players in this setting before. Both have experience competing in previous years and should be difficult to deal with.
Kevin Huerter and Tyler Herro have both shown they can be lethal threats from outside. Although often viewed as in-game shooters, Herro and Huerter could be a pair of sneaky players to monitor in the entire field. A pair of interesting competitors will feature Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.
Both players have the ability to shoot with the best of them, but the 3-point contest setting could prove challenging. For a player like Haliburton, who doesn’t have the quickest of shooting forms, time could become an interesting wrinkle. Players such as Anfernee Simons and Lauri Markkanen could be wildcards as well, especially with Markkanen having the hometown Utah Jazz fans behind him.