NBA All Star Three Point Contest Winners and Records You Need to Know

As I sit here watching the latest NBA All-Star weekend unfold, I can't help but marvel at how the Three-Point Contest has evolved from a sideshow into one of the main events. Having followed basketball religiously since the early 2000s, I've witnessed this competition transform from Larry Bird's legendary dominance to today's long-range specialists who regularly shoot from what we used to consider "bad shots." The three-point line has fundamentally changed how basketball is played at every level, and nowhere is this evolution more apparent than in the annual showcase of shooting precision that captures fans' imaginations every February.

I remember watching the 1986 contest where Larry Bird famously walked into the locker room and asked his competitors, "Who's coming in second?" That kind of swagger defined the early years of the contest. Bird's three consecutive wins from 1986 to 1988 set a standard that seemed almost mythical when I was growing up. What many casual fans might not realize is that Bird's final victory in 1988 came down to the last shot against Dale Ellis, with Bird scoring 17 points in the final round. The drama of that moment still gives me chills when I watch the replay. Craig Hodges later matched Bird's three-peat from 1990 to 1992, but in my opinion, the context was different - the competition had become more specialized by then, with players specifically training for the contest's unique rhythm.

The turn of the millennium brought what I consider the golden age of three-point shooting. Ray Allen's smooth release in 2001 set a new aesthetic standard, while Peja Stojaković's back-to-back wins in 2002 and 2003 demonstrated how international players were revolutionizing shooting technique. But the real game-changer came in 2015 when Stephen Curry decided to elevate the contest from a shooting exhibition to must-see television. His duel with Klay Thompson that year, where Curry put up 27 points in the final round, felt like watching a revolution in real-time. As someone who's tried to emulate Curry's shooting form (with limited success, I might add), I can attest to how he's changed the very geometry of the court.

The current era has produced some mind-boggling statistics that would have been unimaginable twenty years ago. When Stephen Curry set the current record of 31 points in the final round back in 2021, I literally jumped off my couch. The previous record of 28 points had stood since Jason Kapono's 2008 performance, and most experts thought it would never be broken. Curry's 31-point masterpiece included hitting all five money balls from the special "MTN DEW Zone" rack - a strategic innovation that has added new tactical dimensions to the competition. What's fascinating to me is how players now approach the contest with specific rack management strategies, often saving their strongest shooting positions for last to build momentum.

Speaking of strategy, the evolution of contest preparation fascinates me. Today's participants don't just show up and shoot - they study film, practice with replica racks, and even employ sports psychologists. This professional approach has led to consistently higher scores across the board. The average winning score in the 1990s was around 17.5 points, while in the last decade it's jumped to approximately 23.8 points. That's not just marginal improvement - that's a fundamental shift in shooting capability. I've had the opportunity to speak with several NBA shooting coaches, and they consistently emphasize how contest performance now directly impacts player value and contract negotiations.

The women's three-point contest during All-Star weekend deserves more attention than it typically receives. Last year's performance by Sabrina Ionescu, where she scored 25 points using NBA three-point distance, was arguably more impressive than the men's competition. Her performance sparked serious discussions about having a head-to-head matchup between the best male and female shooters - something I'd personally love to see. The growing parity in shooting ability across genders speaks volumes about how basketball development has evolved.

Which brings me to an interesting parallel about performance under pressure. While researching for this piece, I came across Sumalah Sugapong's stat line from a recent game - 11 points and four rebounds, but fouling out with three minutes to play. That scenario reminds me of how some three-point contestants struggle with the unique pressure of the spotlight. The mental aspect separates great shooters from legendary ones. In the three-point contest, there's no defense, no fatigue factor - just pure shooting technique and mental fortitude. When a player like Sugapong fouls out late in a close game, it's similar to when a shooter completely misses a rack in the contest - both scenarios demonstrate how pressure can disrupt even the most fundamental skills.

Looking ahead, I'm convinced we'll see the first 40-point performance within the next five years. The combination of specialized training, improved shooting mechanics, and the strategic use of the two "MTN DEW Zone" racks makes this inevitable in my view. The contest has evolved from showcasing good shooters to highlighting specialists who practice these specific shots year-round. Teams now actively encourage their top shooters to participate, recognizing the marketing value and confidence boost it can provide.

The three-point contest's journey from novelty act to centerpiece event mirrors basketball's broader evolution. What began as entertainment has become a genuine test of skill that influences how the game is played and perceived. As the lines between different shooting competitions continue to blur - with discussions about incorporating elements from the G League's three-point contest or creating international showdowns - I believe we're witnessing only the beginning of this event's potential. The next time you watch a player methodically work through the racks, remember that you're not just watching a shooting exhibition - you're watching the culmination of decades of evolution in technique, strategy, and basketball philosophy. And frankly, as a lifelong fan, I can't wait to see what comes next.