NBA All-Star 2019: Who will win the 3-point contest?

Micah Adams

NBA All-Star 2019: Who will win the 3-point contest? image

In an era dominated by a seemingly endless barrage of 3-point shooting, you could make the argument that the 3-point contest is the single most prestigious event of All-Star weekend.

With a field going 10 deep, who will come out on top?

Will it be defending champion Devin Booker who was as hot as the Sun a year ago, putting up a record 28 points in the final round, the most ever?

Or one of the Curry brothers who hail from Charlotte? Perhaps another crowd favourite in Kemba Walker who will hoist them up in front of his home crowd? Could Raptors sharp shooter Danny Green take home the crown?

Forget overall 3-point percentage or overall made shots.

We looked at how each of the contestants have fared this season from each of the five spots on the floor where racks will be placed - both corners, both wings and the top of the key - to help uncover who will win the 3-point contest.

Left Corner

Seth Curry is at his best from the left corner

Players typically start at the left corner. In an incredibly limited sample size, Seth Curry has been lights out from here this season as he's drained 11 of 14. That makes him a good bet to get off to a hot start and put the pressure on everyone else to not fade early.

Beware of underwhelming starts from Kemba Walker and Khris Middleton, both of whom have struggled from the left corner this season.

Left Corner
  3-pt FG 3-pt FG Pct
Seth Curry 11-14 78.6
Stephen Curry 27-47 57.4
Buddy Hield 26-50 52.0
Joe Harris 7-15 46.7
Devin Booker 5-11 45.5
Damian Lillard 4-9 44.4
Danny Green 15-40 37.5
Dirk Nowitzki 1-3 33.3
Khris Middleton 6-23 26.1
Kemba Walker 3-15 20.0

Left Wing

Stephen Curry is the king of the left wing

The undisputed best shooter in the world and perhaps all-time, the older Curry brother is shooting for his second 3-point contest championship as he won in 2015 against the likes of Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Kyle Korver and JJ Redick.

Curry does most of his damage from the left wing where he's made 75 of 147 shots this season, his most makes from beyond the arc at any of the five different spots on the floor.

 

When Curry won the event in 2015, he went bananas in the final round as he made his final 13 shots and finished with 27 points, then a record for the most ever in a round since surpassed by Devin Booker.

Left Wing
  3-pt FG 3-pt FG Pct
Stephen Curry 75-147 51.0
Joe Harris 27-58 46.6
Buddy Hield 56-125 44.8
Khris Middleton 39-93 41.9
Danny Green 25-61 41.0
Seth Curry 12-31 38.7
Dirk Nowitzki 6-16 37.5
Kemba Walker 45-121 37.2
Damian Lillard 54-154 35.1
Devin Booker 34-102 33.3

Top of the Key

Seth Curry should do damage at the middle rack

The top of the key can make or break a round. It's early enough to turn the tide and overcome a sluggish start. It's also a place where momentum can get stuck in the mud.

Of our 10 shooters in this year's event, the younger of the Curry brothers is the only one that's made at least half of his attempts (granted, 19 attempts isn't exactly a big number).

Top of the Key
  3-pt FG 3-pt FG Pct
Seth Curry 10-19 52.6
Khris Middleton 39-87 44.8
Stephen Curry 41-92 44.6
Buddy Hield 28-64 43.8
Joe Harris 30-75 40.0
Damian Lillard 47-133 35.3
Kemba Walker 50-148 33.8
Devin Booker 28-83 33.7
Danny Green 9-28 32.1
Dirk Nowitzki 4-21 19.0

Right Wing

Seth Curry is the most accurate from 3 of 5 locations

Seth Curry is apparently a marksman from everywhere. He's drained 49 percent of his threes from the right wing, the best among our group of contestants. It's the third different area in which he's been the most accurate this season.

This is also the area in which he starts hitting that at a high volume as his 27 makes from the right wing are over twice as many as he has from any of the other four areas around the three-point line.

Right Wing
  3-pt FG 3-pt FG Pct
Seth Curry 27-55 49.1
Joe Harris 37-80 46.3
Buddy Hield 53-121 43.8
Damian Lillard 38-92 41.3
Danny Green 33-83 39.8
Stephen Curry 57-151 37.7
Kemba Walker 61-164 37.2
Dirk Nowitzki 4-11 36.4
Khris Middleton 26-83 31.3
Devin Booker 20-68 29.4

Right Corner

Kemba Walker could finish strong from the right corner

And finally, we make it to the final rack. The most dramatic of the spots on the floor at least in this contest, this is where the whole thing will be decided.

Perhaps fitting then that the best from this spot is Charlotte's very own All-Star Kemba Walker. Since he's hot the ball in his hands so much, he doesn't venture to the corners a whole lot. But for what it's worth, he's canned 10 of 15 shots from the right corner so if he's in it late, watch out!

Danny Green is someone worth watching as well as he's made the most corner 3s of all players in this competition.

Right Corner
  3-pt FG 3-pt FG Pct
Kemba Walker 10-15 66.7
Joe Harris 14-26 53.8
Danny Green 36-68 52.9
Buddy Hield 20-38 52.6
Stephen Curry 15-34 44.1
Damian Lillard 4-11 36.4
Seth Curry 6-17 35.3
Dirk Nowitzki 2-6 33.3
Khris Middleton 6-19 31.6
Devin Booker 0-3 0.0

The Pick - Seth Curry

This is probably not the most popular pick.

Stephen Curry is most likely the presumed favourite with bigger names like Walker, Booker and Lillard sure to have droves of support.

But not only is Seth Curry leading the NBA in 3-point FG percentage, he's money from almost everywhere. The biggest concern would be a matter of volume as chucking 25 3s in a minute is a lot of action for someone who is among the lowest in the field in terms of total volume.

Another potential sleeper to look out for is Buddy Hield. He's hitting at least 44 percent from each of the five spots including over 50 perent from both corners. If you're looking for a potential winner from outside of the biggest crop of names, Hield is a strong play.

All statistics are though games played Tuesday, February 5

Micah Adams

Micah Adams Photo

Micah Adams is a Managing Editor and Head of Affiliate and Commercial Content at Sporting News. Prior to joining SN in 2021, Adams spent over a decade producing and leading content teams at ESPN, DAZN and The Social Institute. Adams graduated from Duke University in 2009 and remains a Cameron Crazie at heart well into his 30s. When not losing sleep or hair over the Blue Devils, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bulls, and USMNT, Adams enjoys chasing his two small children around along with his wife, losing golf balls, spending time outdoors and binging terrible movies.