NBA All-Star Weekend is finally here and all the festivities are starting in Los Angeles as one of the weekend's longest-running events returns with a new group of players. Larry Bird, Stephen Curry, Mark Price and other greats have graced the stage in the NBA 3-Point Contest, but only one can emerge victorious on Saturday.
Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat won the competition in 2025, but was replaced by teammate Norman Powell. The Blazers' Damian Lillard comes into the event having won two of his last three, but it's the Charlotte Hornets' rookie sharpshooter Kon Nueppel who comes in as the betting favorite. The Suns' Devin Booker will also return after his memorable final round victory in 2018.
3-Point Contest Odds, courtesy of DraftKings
2026 NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest Odds
Kon Knuppel: +240
Damian Lillard: +400
Jamal Murray: +650
Devin Booker: +650
Tyrese Maxey: +700
Donovan Mitchell: +750
Norman Powell: +1000
Bobby Portis: +1200
overview
Each contestant will have 70 seconds (1:10) to pass five racks of five balls, each rack containing a "money ball". In general, a regular basketball will be worth one point while a money ball will be worth two points. The fifth rack, which can be placed at any position by the participant, will exclusively contain five money balls. Finally, two "from the logo" spots will be designated with two shots for three points each.
Each player will take a total of 27 shots in the first round. The three highest scores will advance to the championship round, shooting in the reverse order of their total from the first round.
Main storyline, returning participants
The most interesting name to watch here is Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, who has already won this championship two of the last three years. He is not expected to return to action during the 2025–26 season due to pain, but is determined to compete and regain his former crown. The Cavs' Donovan Mitchell and the Heat's Norman Powell return for another breakout season after a brief absence over the past two years.
Of all the contestants, Tyrese Maxey has had the best season and is garnering MVP votes for his performances with the 76ers this season. Kon Knueppel is challenging the Mavericks' Cooper Flagg for "Rookie of the Year" and winning this contest could certainly raise his stock in the eyes of fans.
player to watch
Rookie Kon Nueppel is the clear betting favorite here, shooting 43.1% from deep on an average attempt ratio of 3.4-7.9 this season. Additionally, he is also adept at taking open looks, so this type of competition is tailored to his skill set. Players like Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell provide a serious chance as they are both capable of catching heat from deep, but they can be considered more of in-game shooters.
The Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis actually has the highest three-point percentage in the entire field at 45.1%, so don't be surprised if he is able to advance to the championship round. Making sure to conserve energy through all five racks is a lesson first-timers usually learn very late in the round, so expect Portis, Maxi and Knueppel to pace themselves early in this rack.
In terms of taking a risk in this contest, Devin Booker could be a solid choice as he has already won this contest. I expect Tyrese Maxey and Donovan Mitchell to go down early as they are more effective when heated up during the game, but players like Booker, Nueppel and Lillard could step up because of their rhythm.
Final 3-Point Contest Predictions and Winners
It's hard to say how effective Damian Lillard will be in regaining his title while competing despite an injured Achilles. The Hornets' Kon Knueppel seems to be the most obvious pick here due to his expertise on the three-point shot and if he is able to get off to a strong start he is the most capable of winning this contest.
Although he will be looking to work on his timing and find his rhythm for the first time in this competition, he has been playing like this against other opponents for most of the season. He is also likely to reach the ground early and hit some shots, making him a likely choice to win in his first outing.
Final Prediction: Conn Knueppel (+240)
