Who should be the participants in the Three-Point Contest?
The NBA All-Star weekend is fast approaching, and with the participants in Saturday night's festivities yet to be announced, it's a good time to look at who deserves to be there.
Based on what we've seen this season, this is who should get the nod for the Three-Point Contest.
Eric Gordon - Houston Rockets (Won in 2017)
| GP | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 136 | 405 | 33.6 |
Gordon's 33.6 percent from behind the arc is the lowest on this list of eight contestants, but you always have to give the champion a shot at defending his crown.
Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors (Won in 2015)
| GP | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 133 | 321 | 41.4 |
The greatest shooter of all time has only won this competition once in five tries. After holding out last year, there's no reason why Curry shouldn't go for the trophy once again. Despite missing 15 games, he's still hit the sixth-most threes in the NBA by averaging a league-high 4.2 makes per game.
Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors (Won in 2016)
| GP | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 154 | 340 | 45.3 |
Another Warrior, another former champion. Thompson's 3-point shooting is simply on another level this year. He has the most makes with 154 while also leading in 3-point percentage.
Sure, it's nice to have representatives from eight different teams, but it's more fun to see Steph and Klay go head to head from deep.
Kyrie Irving - Boston Celtics (Won in 2013)
| GP | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 117 | 294 | 39.8 |
Irving's prolific 3-point shooting is often overshadowed by his dazzling work around the rim. But his long-distance game can't be ignored this season, as the Celtics' No. 1 scoring option is on pace to take a career-high 528 threes, shattering his previous mark of 441.
Paul George - Oklahoma City Thunder
| GP | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 135 | 315 | 42.9 |
George has taken a back seat to Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, and while his work on the defensive end has been spectacular - he's a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate - his efficiency from three has been almost just as impressive.
He's shooting a career-best 42.9 percent from behind the arc, which is good for third among players who have made over 100 threes this season.
Wayne Ellington - Miami Heat
| GP | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 137 | 334 | 41.0 |
After years of bouncing from team to team, Ellington found a role as a legitimate 3-point threat when he signed with the Heat in 2016. He currently sits second in the league in threes made per 36 minutes (4.2), behind only Curry (4.6).
Lou Williams - LA Clippers
| GP | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 130 | 319 | 40.8 |
Williams has always been around the league average from beyond the arc but has experienced a renaissance of sorts with the Clippers this season. He's seventh in the league in threes made while shooting a career-best 40.8 percent. With 37 games remaining for the Clippers, Williams is just 34 makes away from surpassing his career high of 163 triples in a season.
Lauri Markkanen - Chicago Bulls
| GP | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 103 | 280 | 36.8 |
It was difficult to pick between Markkanen and fellow rookie Jayson Tatum. The latter is currently second in the league at 45.1 percent from three, and although that's significantly better than Markkanen's percentage, the fact that the Finnish shooter reached 100 3-pointers faster than any player in NBA history gives him the edge.
Honorable mentions: James Harden (39.1 percent), Jayson Tatum (45.1), Tobias Harris (41.4), C.J. McCollum (42.3), Kyle Korver (43.3)