The 3-point shot used to be a specialty. These days, everyone’s taking and hitting shots from long range. This coming Saturday, we’ll know who’s the best shooter in the NBA – at least from a pool of eight players – in the 2020 NBA 3-point contest. Read on for our picks for the favorites, a sleeper, and a long shot to win the event.
If you’re a hoops fan, there’s no way you haven’t at least heard what the Portland Trail Blazers guard is doing of late. Lillard has been a man possessed, almost single-handedly carrying the weight for his team, though, that’s not to say he’s not getting ample help from the likes of CJ McCollum and Hassan Whiteside. However, no Blazers player is shooting as hot as he’s been the past several games. As of this writing, Lillard has made 51.5 percent of shots from the field, 51.5 percent from behind the arc, and 91.6 percent from the foul line over his last 10 games. In the history of the NBA, only Lillard has shot that well while averaging at least 40 points over a 10-game stretch. Lillard is posting career-highs in points (29.9) and 3-pointers made (4.0) per game this season. He is also knocking down 39.8 percent of his shots from deep, which is also trending to be a career-high for the former Weber State standout.
Joe Harris (+500)
Harris of the Brooklyn Nets do not have the star appeal of Lillard, but he does have what the rest of the other contestants all don’t have — a 3-point contest title in the NBA All-Star Week. If you have forgotten already, Harris won last year’s contest, besting Stephen Curry in Oakland by making each and every ball on his final rack. Harris is in his sixth season in the NBA and yet, he’s still shooting over 40 percent from deep — 40.4 percent to be exact.
SLEEPER
Buddy Hield (+700)
The Sacramento Kings gunner is ready to snipe from deep in Chicago. Hield is averaging 20.5 points this season, his fourth in the NBA. He’s also sinking 3.8 triples per game on 38.6 percent accuracy. Hield is one of those players who can get hot and rack up points in a hurry. If he can get his rhythm early, watch out.
LONG SHOT
Devonte’ Graham (+1000)
Graham is enjoying a breakout campaign in just his second season in the NBA. The former Kansas Jayhawk guard is averaging 18.0 points per game this season while also shooting 37.7 percent from the 3-point territory. Last December, Graham hit 10 3-pointers in a win over the Golden State Warriors at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Joe Harris defends his title and wins another 3-point crown.
