NBA All-Star Weekend 2021: Steph Curry the Favorite to win the Three-Point Contest?

The 2021 NBA All-Star weekend is almost here and the excitement levels can hardly be contained. Of course, fans will be most excited to watch the All-Star game, but another important event will be the three-point contest which will feature the likes of Steph Curry and Devin Booker. 

The NBA’s three-point contest was first included in the All-Star weekend from 1986 and Sacramento Kings’ Buddy Hield is the defending champion. Hield won the 2020 edition, but won’t be participating in 2021. 

Here’s the format and the participants for the 2021 three-point contest:

Date: Sunday, March 7 | Prior to Al-Star game tip-off

Time: 6:30 PM ET 

Broadcast: TNT

Participants: Devin Booker (Suns), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Zach LaVine (Bulls), Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), Jayson Tatum (Celtics)

How do the participants rank ahead of the three-point contest?

The three-point contest traditionally kicks-off with eight participants, but the numbers vary during certain seasons. For instance, the 2019 edition had ten participants, while in 2021, six players will go head-to-head in two rounds to decide the winner.

The list of participants this year is mind-boggling as this is the first time in the history of the contest that every player taking part is a current All-Star. Here’s a glimpse of their history in the contest: 

Steph Curry: 2015 three-point contest champion | Seventh appearance at three-point contest (tied for second all-time) 

Devin Booker: 2019 three-point contest champion | Fifth appearance at the three-point contest

Zach LaVine: Second consecutive three-point contest appearance | Two-time Slam Dunk contest champion 

Donovan Mitchell: Three-point contest debutant | 2018 Slam-Dunk contest champion 

Jayson Tatum: Three-point contest debutant

Jaylen Brown: Three-point contest debutant

It should also be noted that no player has won both the Slam Dunk Contest and the three-point contest in his career. Hence, Mitchell and LaVine have a chance to create history at the 2021 All-Star weekend. 

Safe bets are on Steph Curry to win the contest this year

This is a question that would be lingering on the minds of NBA fans ahead of the three-point contest. Yes, Steph Curry is the absolute favorite to win this event and has made a total of 164 three-pointers in the ongoing 2020-21 NBA season. 

Curry has made the most three-pointers this season out of any on participating in the contest but has not been the most efficient. Bulls’ Zach LaVine leads in this aspect with a 43.3% success rate from long range. 

However, the safe bet should be on Curry due to his hot hand from the three-point range this season. The Warriors star is also the most experienced campaigner in the year’s event, but Devin Booker is also a dark horse who can win the honors. 

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