Three-Point Contest
The Three-Point Contest, officially known as the Starry 3-Point Contest since 2024, is an annual shooting competition held during NBA All-Star Weekend, in which selected players from the National Basketball Association (NBA) compete to score the most points by successfully making three-point field goals from five racks positioned around the three-point arc within a 70-second time limit.[1][2] Each of the five racks holds five basketballs, with two additional STARRY balls worth three points each from extended range, totaling 27 shots available per round; four racks feature four standard balls worth one point each and one "money ball" worth two points, while the central "money rack"—chosen by the player—consists entirely of two-point money balls to reward accuracy from the most challenging position.[3][4][5] The event unfolds in two rounds: eight participants shoot in the first round, with the top three scores advancing to a final round where points reset and the highest scorer is crowned champion.[1][2] Debuting in 1986 as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in Charlotte, North Carolina, the contest was created to highlight the growing importance of the three-point shot in professional basketball, following its formal adoption in the NBA in 1979.[6] The inaugural event was won by Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird, who demonstrated exceptional marksmanship by claiming victory in the first three iterations from 1986 to 1988, a record for consecutive wins later matched by Chicago Bulls guard Craig Hodges from 1990 to 1992.[6][7] Over nearly four decades, the competition has evolved significantly, debuting with a structured rack system of 25 shots in one minute, with later adjustments to participant numbers (typically six to eight), the 2014 introduction of the optional two-point money rack, and the 2020 addition of two STARRY balls worth three points to enhance excitement.[8][9] The contest has showcased some of the league's premier shooters, with several players securing multiple titles, including Hodges and Bird with three each, alongside modern standouts like Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (2015, 2021), Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard (2023, 2024), and Miami Heat's Tyler Herro (2025).[6][9] Record performances include the highest NBA single-round score of 31 points, achieved by several including Hodges in 1991 and Lillard in 2023.[9] Held annually on the Saturday preceding the All-Star Game (except during the 1998 NBA lockout), the event not only celebrates sharpshooting prowess but also influences the broader emphasis on perimeter shooting in contemporary NBA playstyles.[6][10]Overview and History
Origins and Introduction
The Three-Point Contest made its debut in 1986 as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend skills competitions, held in Dallas, Texas, at Reunion Arena. This event marked the introduction of a dedicated shooting challenge during the league's annual midseason festivities, complementing the Slam Dunk Contest that had premiered two years earlier. The contest emerged during a period when the NBA was actively promoting the three-point line, which had been standardized league-wide only since the 1979-80 season, to emphasize long-range shooting as a strategic element of the game.[11][8] Created by the NBA to showcase players' shooting prowess and spotlight specialists in an era of evolving offensive tactics, the Three-Point Contest aimed to entertain fans while highlighting the increasing value of perimeter shooting. In the 1980s, teams were beginning to incorporate more three-point attempts, with league-wide 3PA per team rising from 2.8 in 1979–80 to 3.3 by 1985–86, reflecting a gradual shift toward spacing and efficiency on the court. The event's purpose extended beyond competition, serving as a platform to celebrate the technical skill required for accurate long-distance shots and adding variety to All-Star Saturday Night.[8][12] The initial format featured eight participants who competed in a timed shooting round from five stationary racks positioned around the three-point arc, with each player allotted 60 seconds to attempt 25 shots—five from each rack. Shooters moved sequentially from one rack to the next, aiming to score as many made three-pointers as possible, with all shots valued equally at one point. Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird dominated the inaugural contest, winning with a final-round score of 22 points and establishing himself as an early icon of the event through his precision and confidence.[11][8]Evolution Over Time
The Three-Point Contest, introduced in 1986 as part of NBA All-Star Weekend, has been held annually on All-Star Saturday Night, evolving in participant numbers, scoring mechanics, and event integrations to align with the league's growing emphasis on long-range shooting.[6] Initially featuring eight participants in a timed format with 25 standard shots worth one point each, the contest adapted to maintain competitiveness amid the NBA's shift toward three-point reliance, which accelerated in the 2010s as teams increased attempts from beyond the arc.[8] From 1986 to 2002, the event maintained a core structure of multiple rounds with fixed racks at five positions around the three-point line, allowing shooters 60 seconds per round to attempt all shots, though the number of entrants occasionally varied based on league decisions. In 2003, the format shifted to limit participation to six contestants, a change aimed at streamlining the event during All-Star Saturday Night, which by then had become a fixed Saturday evening showcase including the Slam Dunk Contest and Skills Challenge. This period saw consistent annual integration, except for 1999 when it was canceled due to the NBA lockout, reflecting the contest's established role in NBA festivities.[13][14] The modern era, beginning in 2014, introduced significant tweaks to heighten strategy and scoring potential, coinciding with the three-point shot's dominance in regular-season play, where league-wide 3PA per team rose from 14.7 in 2002–03 to over 35 by the late 2010s. That year, organizers added a "money ball" rack consisting of five two-point balls that participants could position at any of the five standard spots, increasing the maximum score from 30 to 36 points and encouraging tactical rack placement, such as favoring wings over corners. The participant field expanded back to eight, and in 2020, two additional long-range shots worth three points each were incorporated at the top of the key, pushing the potential maximum to 40 points while extending the time limit to 70 seconds for 27 total shots. These modifications responded to criticisms of predictability and elevated the event's excitement.[15][16][17] In the 2020s, the contest's prominence grew with crossovers involving WNBA stars, reflecting the league's three-point trends and efforts to broaden appeal; for instance, the 2004 introduction of the Shooting Stars Challenge—a team event featuring a WNBA player, NBA rookie, and celebrity performing skills including a three-point shot—served as an early precursor to mixed-gender formats. This culminated in 2024 with a special exhibition pitting New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu against Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, where Ionescu set a single-round record of 37 points using the NBA setup, highlighting women's elite shooting amid the era's focus on inclusivity and high-volume three-point play.Rules and Format
Basic Rules
The Three-Point Contest is limited to active NBA players, with eight participants selected annually by the league through a combination of statistical performance in three-point shooting during the regular season, input from players and media, often prioritizing top shooters and including an automatic spot for the defending champion.[18] Participants are not divided strictly by conference in the modern era but chosen at-large to represent elite long-range talent across the league.[3] The competition takes place on a regulation NBA court, featuring five stationary shooting stations positioned symmetrically around the three-point arc: one at each baseline corner and one at each wing and the top of the key. Each station is equipped with a rack containing five official NBA basketballs, positioned for quick access, allowing participants to shoot without needing to handle rebounds on made shots as the next ball remains ready on the rack.[1] Missed shots are left on the floor, with no retrieval required during the timed round to maintain pace.[19] The event structure includes an opening round for all eight entrants, followed by a championship round for the top three performers based on that initial performance; ties are resolved through additional 70-second rounds until broken. Each shooting attempt occurs within a 70-second time limit per round, a duration implemented starting in 2020 to accommodate the setup and allow for more shots.[2] Competitors begin at a rack of their choosing, shoot all five balls from that station in sequence, then rotate to the remaining racks in any order they select, aiming to complete as many attempts as possible before time expires. No external assistance is provided, and players handle their own ball retrieval from the racks exclusively.[20] All shots are taken using standard NBA-approved leather basketballs, ensuring consistency with game conditions, and the contest adheres to official three-point line distances without modifications to the arc.[8]Scoring System and Variations
The scoring system in the Three-Point Contest awards 1 point for each standard three-point shot made and 2 points for each "money ball" shot made, with the total score calculated as the sum of points from all successful shots within the allotted time. Each rack typically contains four standard balls and one money ball, though variations allow for strategic placement of additional money balls. This system encourages precision and pace, as players must balance speed with accuracy to maximize their score.[16][18] Tiebreakers are used to resolve equal scores, particularly in the final round. If a tie occurs, competitors first play a full 70-second tiebreaker round under the same format; if scores remain tied, they proceed to sudden-death shooting from the center rack, taking unlimited attempts until one player misses, with the first miss determining the winner. This format ensures a decisive outcome while highlighting clutch performance under pressure.[18][1] The contest's format has evolved across eras to promote fairness, excitement, and adaptability to player skills. Prior to 2003, participants had 60 seconds to attempt up to 25 shots from five racks, all valued at 1 point, emphasizing volume shooting without differentiated scoring. From 2003 to 2017, money balls were added as the final shot in each rack (worth 2 points), retaining the 25-shot, 60-second structure but increasing the maximum score to 30 points and rewarding accuracy on select attempts. In 2014, within this period, players gained the option to designate one full rack as all money balls, boosting the potential maximum to 34 points and introducing strategic choice.[8][13] Since 2020, the format shifted to a 70-second timer for 27 shots total—five racks of five balls plus two additional "Starry" balls at extended corner distances worth 3 points each—eliminating the stationary shot option from prior years to heighten dynamism. This change raised the theoretical maximum score to 40 points while maintaining the money ball mechanics, including the player-selected money rack. Competitors may choose their starting rack and the order of rotation to suit their strengths.[2][21]Participants and Performance
Selection Process
The Three-Point Contest, introduced in 1986 as part of NBA All-Star Weekend, initially operated as an invitational event where participants were selected at the discretion of the league, prioritizing players renowned for their long-range shooting accuracy and often including All-Stars or notable specialists. In its inaugural years, the field typically consisted of eight competitors, with selections emphasizing demonstrated proficiency from the three-point line, as seen in the dominance of Larry Bird, who won the first three editions (1986–1988) after being chosen based on his elite shooting reputation.[8][22] By the late 1980s and into the 1990s, the selection process remained largely commissioner-driven and invitational, allowing flexibility to include international or non-active players for diversity, such as Lithuanian sharpshooter Rimas Kurtinaitis in 1989 or free agent Craig Hodges in 1992. This era highlighted occasional controversies over exclusions, including All-Star guard Mark Price voicing frustration in 1993 after being overlooked in favor of Hodges, underscoring the subjective nature of picks that favored shooting volume and reputation over strict statistical thresholds. The field size occasionally varied, dropping to six participants between 2002 and 2013, but the core method stayed focused on curating a mix of guards, forwards, and occasional big men to represent both conferences.[8] Participants could decline invitations, as evidenced by high-profile players opting out to prioritize rest or team obligations during the season.[23] Entering the 2000s and 2010s, the NBA formalized criteria to include sorting eligible players by three-point field goal percentage and total makes, aiming to highlight volume shooters who attempted significant numbers of threes during the regular season. For instance, in 2010, invitees like Danilo Gallinari (326 attempts) and Channing Frye (277 attempts) were selected for their high-volume output, even if not leading in efficiency, alongside defending champions and rising talents like Stephen Curry. This approach balanced statistical merit with star power, often involving input from NBA executives to ensure diversity in positions and conference representation, while maintaining the eight-player format through 2018 before expanding to ten in 2019. Recent iterations continue this hybrid model, incorporating recent winners—such as Damian Lillard in 2023 and 2024—and top performers in three-point percentage, though the league retains final say to foster competitive balance and appeal.[24][25]List of Winners
The Three-Point Contest has crowned numerous sharpshooters since its debut, with winners determined by their accuracy in a timed shooting format from five positions around the three-point arc. The event typically features eight participants advancing through rounds, culminating in a final showdown among the top two or three shooters. Scores are calculated based on made shots, with bonus "money ball" racks offering extra points in modern iterations. No contest was held in 1999 due to the NBA lockout.[6] Below is a chronological list of winners, including their teams:
Several players have achieved multiple victories, highlighting their sustained excellence in long-range shooting. Larry Bird secured three straight wins from 1986 to 1988, dominating early finals against competitors like Dale Ellis and Craig Hodges. Craig Hodges, Mark Price, and Peja Stojaković also claimed three titles each, with Hodges' spanning 1990–1992, Price's 1993–1994, and Stojaković's in 2002, 2003, and 2007. Two-time winners include Jeff Hornacek (1998, 2000), Jason Kapono (2007 Heat, 2008 Raptors), Stephen Curry (2015, 2021), and Damian Lillard (2023–2024), who accomplished back-to-back triumphs, often edging out Western Conference rivals in intense finals, such as Lillard's 2024 victory over Malik Monk (24 points).[7]
Conference trends reveal a shift in dominance over time, with Eastern Conference players prevailing in the contest's first two decades, exemplified by Bird's sweep and Hodges' Bulls tenure. However, the Western Conference gained an edge in the 2010s, winning eight of the ten contests from 2011 to 2020, fueled by sharpshooters like Curry, Thompson, and Booker who outperformed Eastern finalists such as Irving (2013, beating Belinelli 22–19) and Pierce (2010, topping Kapono 20–19). This Western surge reflected the league's evolving emphasis on perimeter shooting in the modern era.[6]
Women's involvement has grown since 2020 through blended events at All-Star Weekend, integrating WNBA talent into the NBA format for special rounds. Allie Quigley, a four-time WNBA Three-Point Contest winner (2017, 2018, 2020, 2022), participated in exhibition elements, showcasing cross-league skill parity. In 2020, Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) competed in the NBA contest's final money-ball rack, making a record 37 consecutive shots and outscoring the male participants in that segment, though the overall title went to Graham. These integrations have highlighted women's elite shooting prowess without altering the primary NBA winner selection.[6]
As of November 2025, the 2025 winner Tyler Herro is the most recent, having defeated Buddy Hield (23 points) 24–23 in the final at the Chase Center; future events will continue this tradition post-February All-Star Weekend.[27]