Despite the immense popularity of the Slam Dunk Contest, the three-point shootout contest remains as one of the most anticipated competitions in the annual NBA All-Star Weekend. Through the years, this event has given us a number of memorable performances from legendary players like Larry Bird to surprise packages like Jason Kapono.
With that, let’s now count down the five best performances ever in this competition. To read more on this year’s particular crop of shooters, one of the best in the history of the event, check out our complete preview of the 2015 NBA 3 Point Contest. You can also find our complete preview of 2015’s All-Star game itself here.
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Top Five Three-Point Contest Performances at the NBA All-Star Game
5. Peja Stojakovic
[sc:NBA240banner ]Remember Peja Stojakovic? Yeah, he’s the former Sacramento King, who buries three-pointers with an ease akin to how former teammate Chris Webber used to dunk on poor bystanders beneath the rim.
It was just that easy for the Serbian sharpshooter, really. Peja was a multi-winner of the three-point shootout, having won the contest in back-to-back fashion from 2002 to 2003. In the final round of the 2003 contest, Peja handily beat Wesley Person, 22-16.
4. Mark Price
Mark Price is a bad man from beyond the arc, and during the final round of the 1994 three-point shootout contest, he let fellow finalist Dana Barros know just how dialed in he was. Price, who entered the contest as the event’s defending champion, absolutely demolished Barros in the final round by scoring 24 points (Barros only had 13). It was the most points scored in the final round at that time, a performance that wasn’t bested for 14 years…
3. Jason Kapono
We don’t know where Jason Kapono is right now. He’s been out of the league since 2012 and according to his Wikipedia profile page, was signed by the Golden State Warriors in October of 2014 only to be cut a few weeks later. What we know, however, is that Kapono was automatic from the three-point region during his playing days.
If you need proof, here’s Exhibit A, which shows Kapono going into video-game mode in the 2008 three-point shootout contest and scoring 25 points in one round to tie Craig Hodges’ record. Kapono won the contest in 2007 and successfully defended it in 2008.
2. Craig Hodges
Craig Hodges is the greatest Chicago Bull ever…when it comes to three-point shooting. Well, maybe it’s Steve Kerr, but Kerr wasn’t as effective in this particular contest. Hodges owned the competition three years in row (1990-1992), thus joining a certain Larry Bird as the event’s only three-time champions. And just in case those titles weren’t enough to put your jaw on the floor, here’s Hodges draining 19 straight shots to open a round in the 1991 edition of the contest.
1. Larry Bird
Larry Bird isn’t called Larry Bleepin’ Legend for nothing. The Celtic great has had a voluminous collection of badassery on the hardcourt throughout his illustrious career, and his performance in the 1988 NBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout Contest is part of that legacy.
Trailing Dale Ellis by seven points through three racks and with only 25 seconds left on the shot clock, Bird began transformed into a mythical creature and scored 10 points the rest of the way. Bird’s hot shooting culminated in him raising his index finger just before the last ball—the money ball—went in for the win.
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