標籤: 3Point

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green sharply criticized Daryl Morey and his changing stance on the three-point shot during the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, calling the Philadelphia 76ers executive’s recent comments “trash.”

Green objected to the idea that the increased influence of the three-point shot has changed the game too much and should potentially be addressed through rule changes. The veteran forward argued that attempts to modify the structure of the game are misguided due to the way players have adapted offensively.

“To come out now and try to change the entire game of basketball as we know it and play because people have become good at certain things is ridiculous,” Green said.

“This is ridiculous. So now we want to add the four-point shot or who knows what. No, can we stop trying to completely rewrite the game of basketball because Daryl Morey came up with a theory that ultimately wasn’t successful for him?”

Green later continued his criticism by reiterating his stance on Morey’s perspective regarding the value of perimeter shooting.

“I’m sorry, but I miss this garbage. If I’ve ever heard garbage before in my life it’s garbage.”

The four-time NBA champion also pointed out what he sees as inconsistency in Morey’s situation. Green noted that during Morey’s tenure with the Houston Rockets, the organization leaned heavily into an analytical approach that prioritized three-point shooting and shot selection at the rim.

From 2013 to 2020, the Morey Rockets built their offensive identity around maximizing three-point attempts and minimizing midrange shots. During that span, Houston led the NBA in both three-point attempts and three-point makes in six out of seven seasons, becoming one of the league’s most analytics-driven teams.

Draymond Green calls out Daryl Morey’s changing stance on three-point philosophy

That philosophy was widely seen as an attempt to compete with the Warriors dynasty that dominated the Western Conference during the latter half of the 2010s. Golden State’s offense, led by elite shooting from its backcourt, helped redefine spacing and perimeter scoring across the league.

Green referenced that history when addressing Morey’s recent viewpoint that the three-point shot has become too easy and may have a disproportionate value relative to its difficulty.

According to Green, this argument contradicts the strategy that Morey had previously used when building the Rockets roster, specifically to challenge Golden State’s championship core.

This conversation reflects the ongoing debate over the evolution of NBA offenses in the analytics era. League-wide three-point attempts have steadily increased over the past decade as teams place an emphasis on spacing, speed and perimeter efficiency.

Although no formal proposal has been made to adjust the value of the three-point shot, discussions regarding the league’s offensive balance and potential rule changes continue to surface from time to time among executives, analysts, and players.

Green’s comments highlight the perspective of a player who has played a central role in the Warriors’ championship run and the broader transformation of the modern NBA offense.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry’s three-point record is believed to be out of reach, but Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards believes there is at least one man who can catch Curry.

Curry broke the record for three points scored in a game against the New York Knicks on December 14, 2021. He passed Ray Allen’s career mark of 2,973 three-pointers. But that record certainly seems like ages ago, as he surpassed 4,000 career three-pointers in March 2025 and currently stands at 4,233 in March 2026. James Harden is now second on the list with 3,336 three-pointers.

In a feature written by Danny Ammerman san francisco standardAnthony Edwards talked about who he believes can surpass Steph Curry for most career three-pointers. Of course, Edwards responded bluntly, saying, “I think I’m going to catch him.”

But after taking themselves out of the equation, they identified an interesting name: Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel.

“He can catch him,” Edwards told Emmerman. “The white boy from Charlotte, okay? He’s good. … Either me or Kon Knueppel. I’m a big fan of Kon Knueppel. He can really shoot the ball.”

The case of both Knueppel and Edwards is not as far-reaching as it may seem. Knueppel currently leads the league in three-pointers, drilling 222 at the time of this writing. Anthony Edwards ranks 9th in the top 10 for three-pointers made this season, with nearly 185. Edwards and Knueppel are both ahead of Curry, who has made 175 but has played only 39 games due to lingering injuries.

Knueppel’s NBA reputation in his first season was as an instinctive shooter who seems almost automatic from behind the arc. But Edwards wasn’t always a high-volume three-point shooter. In the 2020–2021 season, he shot 32.9% from three. Although he could knock down those shots, it was not his strongest asset. But since his rookie season, he has become one of the best three-point shooters in the league, hitting 39% from range in the 2024-2025 season and attempting 10.3 per game – which was 3.6 more attempts than in the 2023-2024 season.

While it will certainly take a long time to catch Steph Curry, and Curry certainly has more seasons left to attempt to put the three-point record out of reach, it’s certain that Knueppel and Edwards have a shot at the crown.

The Orlando Magic had a stellar performance coming out of the All-Star break, posting a 131–94 win over the Sacramento Kings while setting a franchise record for 3-pointers.

Orlando connected on 27 of his 50 attempts from beyond the arc, showcasing ball movement, spacing and confidence all night. Leading the charge was Paolo Banchero, who imposed his will early and finished with 30 points, six assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block in 32 minutes. He shot 10 of 21 from the field, 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line.

After the game, Banchero pointed to execution and belief as keys to the record-setting performance.

“Yeah, it’s a good, good way to start this back half of the season after the break by getting a three-point record,” Banchero said. “That’s a good sign and yeah, I think we did a good job like I said, finding the advantage and then playing from there and finding the open man.”

He credited the team’s scoring ability from long range.

“I think we did a good job of letting the defense react to what we were doing and then getting a guy open, finding that guy, and then whoever it was – stepping into their shot and hitting it with confidence,” Banchero said. “I thought guys didn’t shy away from threes today. When they’re open, guys let it fly, including me, you know, just being confident in the shot, staying with the results and today they were hitting at a high level.”

Paolo Banchero’s aggression, defense fuel franchise 3-point night vs. Kings

Banchero also emphasized his mindset entering the competition.

“I’m just trying to come out, impose my will, be aggressive,” he said. “As you said, there are a lot of important games coming up, so I think everybody on the team understands that just coming out, doing whatever we have to do to win these games.”

Head coach Jamahl Mosley paired offensive explosion with defensive intensity.

“I really think it was our defense that was making some early, easy offensive looks,” Mosley said. “We were able to get down low, attack the basket, and then we were able to spray out for set three on legs. I thought our guys did a great job of sharing it out, moving it up, trusting the pass and just trusting our teammates.”

Mosley credited preparation and spacing for the franchise milestone.

“I thought it was great,” he said. “I think the guys did a great job in practice yesterday, understanding what shots we were going to get against this team. Our coaches did a great job of setting these guys up in the right situations, in the right spots, and guys were confident and comfortable and ready to get their feet wet and make shots.”

Magical Defense Increases Stealing Process as West Coast Tour Continues

He also praised Banchero’s tenacity.

Mosley said, “I like how he settled into the game, started being very aggressive early on, started getting down low, attacking the basket when she was open, stepping into a shot, letting people know how they were guarding him.” “I thought they did a great job of finding teammates, but overall on our team I think we did a great job of trusting our defense to carry our offense, and that’s why the ball was bouncing the way it was.”

The defensive pressure was evident in the box score. The Magic recorded 13 steals in Sacramento. The team’s PR account shared that this is the fifth consecutive game in which Orlando has recorded at least 10 steals, the third-longest in franchise history. The longest streak of games with 10 or more steals is seven, set from January 29 to February 18, 1994.

The activity at that end helped promote transition opportunities and early attack, reinforcing Mosley’s emphasis on creating rhythm and confidence in defence.

With the win, Orlando improved to 29–25, and moved within a half game of the sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers (30–25) in the Eastern Conference. The Magic continue their West Coast trip against the Phoenix Suns (32-24) on Saturday at 5:00 PM ET on NBA TV.

This weekend, the NBA All-Star Weekend events took place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. Representing the Phoenix Suns in both the three-point contest and the All-Star Game was Devin Booker, who has been playing at an elite level for Phoenix all year.

It seemed like Booker was in the driver’s seat to win consecutive three-point contests, but ultimately, he lost the contest to Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard at the end of his final rack.

Now, Booker is getting 100% real on his anticipation for next year’s competition, which will take place in Phoenix during the 2027 All-Star weekend.

“It hurt a little bit. I wanted it so bad. I wish I was defending it in Phoenix, but if I get an invite it’ll probably be the last time next year. I’m looking forward to it,” Booker said, according to Duane Rankin of AZ Central, formerly of AZ Central, on Twitter.

Booker will almost certainly receive an invitation to compete in front of his home fans in Phoenix next year. However, as Starr hinted, Booker will have to feel like he let one slip over the weekend, getting off to a great start in the championship round before finally hitting a cold shoulder at the worst possible time.

The loss gave Lillard his third three-point championship win and prevented Booker from taking home what would have been his second win in that department. Meanwhile, Lillard recently hinted on Instagram that he would like to run it back next year with Booker, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Now, Booker and the Suns will turn their attention back to the 2025-26 season, where Phoenix has been one of the most surprising teams in the league. The Suns currently have a solid chance to clinch a top-six seed in the Western Conference as the season enters its home stretch.

They next hit the road on Thursday evening against the San Antonio Spurs.

On Saturday evening, the NBA hosted some of its All-Star weekend activities from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, home of the Clippers. Among them was the Three-Point Contest, which was won by the Portland Trail Blazers’ star point guard Damian Lillard, who defeated Devin Booker and Kon Knueppel in the final round of the contest.

It was the third career Three-Point Contest win for Lillard, who is currently sidelined with an Achilles injury but still wanted to participate in the event, and now, the former All-Star is previewing what the competition could look like in the 2027 season.

“Me, you, Klay, Bucs, and 4 more real shooters,” Lillard wrote in a message to Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, which he posted on social media (via Lillard’s account on Instagram).

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have had some coveted three-point contest battles with Lillard over the years, and Devin Booker has also added his name to that discussion in recent seasons, winning a three-point battle and nearly winning another on Saturday evening before he fouled out down the stretch during the final period.

Meanwhile, the Blazers and their fans will be hoping that Lillard can continue his excellent level of performance on the court when he returns to action next year. Lillard re-joined the Portland franchise last offseason after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, and although he is still recovering from an Achilles injury suffered during last year’s playoffs, he is projected to provide some much-needed perimeter playmaking and shooting for a Blazers team that is surging in the Western Conference this year.

On Sunday, Blazers fans got a chance to see young star Deni Avdija play for the World Team in the All-Star Game, and Portland next faces off against the Denver Nuggets on Friday evening.

Let’s start the hype for the 2027 NBA Three-Point Contest. On Sunday, Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Stephen Curry confirmed that he will participate in the 2027 edition of the event.

After Damian Lillard became the third player in tournament history to win it three times when the Portland Trail Blazers lifted the trophy on Saturday, Curry said on the NBA Showtime broadcast that he would be there “100 percent.”

Additionally, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player said he would try to get former Warriors teammate and half of the famous “Splash Brothers” Klay Thompson in there, as well as other players.

“I’ve already scheduled it. We’re gonna bring some people. I, Dame [Damian Lillard]I’m going to try to get Clay [Thompson]God [Devin Booker]”Curry said.

🚨BREAKING: Steph Curry says he’ll have a 3-point contest next year 🔥

Curry says he’ll try to get Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard to compete next year 😳pic.twitter.com/NW1ljZbeql

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 February 2026

Like everyone else, Curry watched Lillard, now again with the Portland Trail Blazers, join 3-Point Shootout legends Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players to win the event three times. Bird held the top spot in 1986, 1987, and 1988, while Hodges ruled it in 1990, 1991, and 1992. Lillard won the championship in 2023 and 2024 and finished on top again in 2026, despite the fact that he is still recovering from an Achilles injury.

As for Curry, he is a two-time three-point shootout king, having captured the crown in 2015 and 2021.

As the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers, Curry probably felt obligated to attend the event in 2027 for a chance to join Lillard, Bird and Hodges in the extremely exclusive three-time winners club.

Damian Lillard didn’t need much convincing to step onto the Intuit Dome floor Saturday night. Despite being sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Portland Trail Blazers star proved that “Dame Time” is a permanent setting. Lillard captured his third career NBA 3-Point Contest title and joined legends Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time winners in the history of the event.

“People know I’m a real competitor.” 😤

let’s talk damian lillard @ChrisBHaynes About joining @state Farm NBA 3-Point Contest when slots are available! pic.twitter.com/PtEncrsEK7

– NBA TV (@NBATV) 15 February 2026

The nine-time All-Star admitted that the decision to join was almost a joke at first. While discussing holiday plans with NBA officials, Lillard mentioned he was available if a slot opened up. When this happened, he took the opportunity to “spice things up” and give fans something to cheer about during his long journey to recovery.

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is the 2026 Three-Point Contest Champion. He achieved this feat despite sitting out this season due to an Achilles tear. He managed to defeat guard Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns and rookie Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets in the championship round of the tournament.

While accepting his award, the 35-year-old point guard was asked what was going through his mind as he watched Booker take his turn in the three-point contest. Lillard cheerfully admitted he was “praying” for the Suns star to “fall.”

“I was praying for his downfall,” Lillard claimed.

“I was praying for his downfall”

What Damian Lillard was thinking when he saw Devin Booker in the final round😅

pic.twitter.com/4329tM90fm https://t.co/bci6DfMFGu

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

It appears to have worked, as Devin Booker failed to surpass Damian Lillard’s 29 points in the championship round. The win marked Lillard’s third three-point contest win of his career. he joins larry bird And Craig Hodges is the only player in league history to win the competition three times.

With the competition over, Lillard will likely go back to taking care of his Achilles tendon tear in preparation for the 2026-27 campaign. The nine-time All-Star is not expected to return this season, even if the Trail Blazers reach the playoffs. Meanwhile, Portland will continue to lean on Deni Avdija and its young roster. The club is ranked No. 9 in the Western Conference at the All-Star break.

Damian Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Trail Blazers last season after the Milwaukee Bucks waived him. His deal includes a no-trade clause, so there’s a chance Lillard finishes his career in Portland. Over the course of 13 years in the league, Lillard has career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game as well as a 43.9% career field goal percentage and 37.1% three-point percentage.

Last postseason, Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles injury while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. Less than 10 months later, he is again wearing a Portland Trail Blazers uniform and winning his third 3-point contest in the last four years. Welcome to the twilight zone.

The star point guard, who hasn’t played a game this season and likely won’t, overcame long layoffs and fierce competitors like Devin Booker and rookie Kon Knuppel to reclaim his throne during NBA All-Star Weekend. He joined Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players in NBA history to win the championship three times. Booker was poised to snatch the trophy, but Lillard’s 30-point performance in the final round came up short.

Although it’s been a while since the seven-time All-NBA selection took an official 3-pointer, fans got a reminder that it’s still really dam time.

Damian Lillard surprised people

@JDCowboys2 commented, “He’s seriously one of the greatest players to ever do it, he won the three-point contest with half an Achilles.” @rozaydaghost commented, “This guy has really been through a lot and is almost in tears.” “w“A wonderful chapter is added to his story.”

“From Achilles tear to 3x 3PT champion in just one year?” @loftymimi surprised. “The Dame is created differently. Pure inspiration.” While many fans were surprised by Lillard’s still-smooth shooting stroke, others were equally surprised by the NBA’s decision to allow him to compete in the All-Star Weekend staple despite missing the entire campaign. Someone clearly lost the chance to enter the 3-point contest due to the 35-year-old’s involvement.

@YoungSixtus expressed, “Crazy talent but let’s be real – ranking a guy who played 0 games compared to active shooters this season feels like pure NBA entertainment marketing.” “Congratulations Dame.”

“This is a blatant insult to the rest of the league,” declared @coldog05. “Damian Lillard is dominating a skills competition here while doing virtually nothing else all season. Crazy.”

Whether or not fans believe Lillard should have competed, he deserves ample praise for outshining everyone else at less than full strength. History will remember this event for the skill and tenacity of the nine-time All-Star, and will likely also forget the lack of NBA minutes he logged this season.

Perhaps more than anything, this surprising performance gives Blazers fans a big reason to look forward to next season.

The Charlotte Hornets already know they have one of the NBA’s best shooters in rookie guard Kon Nueppel. The rest of the league got to see it for the first time in the 2026 3-Point Contest.

Knueppel is the only rookie in the 2026 Shootout and he represented himself well in the first round. The 20-year-old took an early lead by scoring 27 points in his first 3-point contest and punched his ticket to the final round.

Con Knueppel led the way in the first round of the 3-pt contest with 27 points.pic.twitter.com/iftC0I2uU7 https://t.co/g8xEWy35Ww

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Knueppel’s 27 points were bested only by Devin Booker, who led the first period with 30 points. Damian Lillard also posted 27 points to join the final trio. Lillard won the contest with a 29-point championship round.

Knueppel entered the All-Star break making 43.1 percent of his three-point attempts. He has been consistently good from deep throughout the season, making over 40 percent of his long-range shots in all but one month this season.

Knueppel’s 183 three-pointers made before the All-Star break are second in the league, two behind Donovan Mitchell. The rookie was off to a hot start in February before the break, averaging 4.6 triples per game in his last five contests.

Had Knueppel won the championship, he would have been the first rookie in NBA history to do so. Stephen Curry, Kyle Korver, Dennis Scott and Lillard all participated as rookies, but none claimed a victory.

Despite the cheater curse, Knueppel was the favorite to win the competition. Even with a strong performance in the second round, he likely would have lost to Lillard, who won his third 3-Point Contest crown.

Although Damian Lillard is not playing this season due to an Achilles tear, the Portland Trail Blazers point guard was still able to compete in this year’s Three-Point Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend. By performing brilliantly on Saturday, he proved that he still has this ability.

According to ESPN, the 35-year-old guard managed to win the three-point contest outright. He recorded a score of 29 in the championship round, defeating Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel.

“Damian Lillard wins 2026 3-pt contest less than a year after overcoming his affliction.”

Lillard was on fire during the three-point contest. The 13-year veteran (he would be 14 if he played this season) recorded 27 points in the first round, 30 in the second round and 29 points in the championship round. By the end of the tournament he was no match for Booker or Knueppel.

Damian Lillard’s 2nd round score: 30 🎯

He has a score to beat in the final round @state Farm NBA 3-Point Contest!

Tap to watch: https://t.co/BpnjnxQ8vC pic.twitter.com/aMkcI3Liec

– NBA (@NBA) 14 February 2026

This is Damian Lillard’s third three-point contest win in his career. He has been one of the league’s best shooters, earning him the nickname “Logo Lillard” due to his ability to consistently hit three-pointers from near midcourt range. Winning the three-point contest also indicates that the nine-time All-Star may finally be in great form in his return from injury.

Lillard suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 129–103 Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the 2024–25 playoffs. Milwaukee waived Damian Lillard after the season, leading him to sign a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Trail Blazers. His deal also includes a no-trade clause.

Damian Lillard is not expected to play this season, even if Portland reaches the playoffs. With the Trail Blazers gradually improving the roster, the club could be ultra-competitive upon Lillard’s return next season.

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)