This year marks the 35th 3-Point Contest as part of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend. The first year’s victor, of course being the 3 shot legend, Larry Bird. This year’s competition, however, proved a bit different as it was the first time in the contest’s history where each participant is a current NBA All-Star. This year’s participants? Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum, Zach Lavine, Mike Conley, Donavan Mitchell, and Stephen Curry. Yes, I ended with Steph Curry, the marksman in which 3-point shooting in the league seems to mutually begin and end. Steph would begin the 1st round with a chilling 31-point total, and in the 2nd round would shut down Utah Jazz PG Mike Conley Jr. on his final Moneyball splash for the win!
Conley, however, offered over no easy victory, as there was only a one-point margin between him and his competitor. The craziest part, the First-Time All-Star came in as a replacement to Phoenix Suns Devin Booker. Booker was forced to sit out All-Star Weekend due to a left knee sprain from last week’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Uncanny right?
Nevertheless, Steph would close the competition making waves. There’s even now a running joke that Steph pulled a Larry Bird, proposing a simple question to his fellow opponents in the locker room: “So who’s Coming in 2nd?”
Question or not, Steph’s mere presence in the lineup seemed to take effect as Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown didn’t even reach 20 points in the first round. In his defense, he’s been described as more of a scorer vs a shooter.
Brown, along with Lavine, and Mitchell would be knocked out after the first round sending Tatum, Conley, and Curry into a shootout.
After Steph’s 31-point presentation, Brown’s Celtic teammate Jayson Tatum seemed to sincerely receive the message that class was dismissed as he fell off the final round at 17.
As for a 33-year old Conley who had waited over a decade for his All-Star name to be called, pressure was more so applied, then received. Although the PG’s 3-Point Field Goal Percentage is above average this season sitting at 42.2%, many seemed to be surprised by the way he crafted 28 points in the first round alone. He’d follow up the final round with 27, including a Mountain Dew Ball and a target named Stephen Curry.
This seemed to visibly shake the Chef at the start of the Championship round as Curry would go 1 for 5 on his first rack. This of course, wouldn’t last long… After Curry found his rhythm, he’d match Conley with his own Mountain Dew ball. Ultimately though, as Curry was down but just one point, all weight landed on the last ball he released from his hands. By the way he held his pose, he seemed to know it would be nothing but net… and it was! Steph would add a 2ndAll-Star Three-Point title to his resume in true clutch fashion.
Locked shoulder to shoulder with Donovan Mitchell, the two stood up from their seats anticipating Curry’s final shot. Once it splashed in Conley could do nothing, but wave his hand in the air and laugh. I mean hey, you can’t really be mad at greatness!
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