If you saw the roster for the 3-point contest at the 2023 NBA All-Star weekend and started scratching your head, join the club.
The NBA announced the eight participants on Tuesday morning and we've got some serious questions. For starers, none of the league's 10 best shooters by percentage, according to Basketball-Reference, will be participating. That's strangely bizarre given not only the history of the competition which has featured the likes of Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr, but also given the general rise of the 3-pointer as an essential, in-demand skill.
So yes, there were many players that did not make the cut who perhaps should have. Neither of the Splash Brothers are participating despite leading the league in made 3s per game. Isaiah Joe, Malcolm Brogdon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Luka Kennard are all threatening to shoot 45% from deep yet absent.
But there was no bigger snub than Yuta Watanabe, who had been leading the league with a scorchingly-hot 48.1 percent from 3 this season.
Who are the participants in the 2023 NBA 3-point shooting contest?
| Name | 3-point percentage |
|---|---|
| Jayson Tatum | 35.3% |
| Tyler Herro | 36.9% |
| Damian Lillard | 37.5% |
| Anfernee Simons | 38.1% |
| Kevin Huerter | 39.0% |
| Tyrese Haliburton | 39.8% |
| Lauri Markkanen | 41.2% |
| Buddy Hield | 42.3% |
Statistics as of 2/14/23
Why was Watanabe not invited to the 3-point shootout?
The league doesn't disclose what its criteria is for inviting participants, but it seems as if they chose based on reputation and star power rather than how well players have shot the ball this season.
For example, Tatum is shooting below the 35.9 percent league-average mark but was still extended an invite. His percentage is no. 102 in the league. Herro is the no. 77 shooter by 3-point percentage in the league, per Basketball-Reference.
Watanabe was ultimately not extended the invite, perhaps in part to his low volume of shots. He's only taken 108 3-pointers on the season. Hield (530), Simons (512), Tatum (502), and Lillard (496) are all in the top four in attempts.
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Should Watanabe have been allowed to participate?
Despite not taking many 3-pointers, Watanabe still had a very good case for being extended an invite.
Watanabe's 48.1 percent shooting at the All-Star break was by far the highest mark in the league of anyone with at least 100 attempts. It's also higher than last year's league leader, Luke Kennard at 44.9 percent.
Watanabe has had a historic shooting season thus far. His percentage is the 19th-highest in NBA history among players with at least 108 attempts, per Stathead. He is even better at catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. His 49.0 percent is the best mark in the league, per NBA Stats. If he qualifies, he's got a decent chance to become just the 7th player in league history to make at least half for an entire season.
Watanabe had said previously that "it would be an honor" to participate. Unfortunately, he won't get to experience that honor.
2023 NBA All-Star schedule
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Friday, Feb. 17
- Celebrity Game (7 p.m. ET)
- Rising Stars Challenge (9 p.m. ET)
Saturday, Feb. 18
- HBCU Classic (4 p.m. ET)
- Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest (8 p.m. ET)
Sunday, Feb. 19
- 2023 NBA All-Star Game (8 p.m. ET)
