NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest records: Best rounds, most wins, perfect scores & more

Contributor
Gilbert McGregor
NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest records: Best rounds, most wins, perfect scores & more image

For some time now, the 3-Point Contest has been one of the most exciting competitions that NBA All-Star Saturday Night has to offer.

As many of the league's most prolific marksmen are in one place, the level of competition rises as players get hot and attempt to outdo one another within the allotted span of 70 seconds. Over the years, the format has changed, but the excitement has remained the same, if not greater than it was before.

With great shooters come some remarkable shooting performances. Have a look at some of the most impressive showings in the history of the NBA's 3-point contest.

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NBA All-Star 3-point contest records

Since being introduced in 1986, the 3-point contest has been the subject of some innovation over the last decade.

In 2014, the league introduced a rack comprised completely of "Money Balls" worth two points, increasing the maximum total score in one round from 30 to 34.

In 2020, the league introduced two additional shots from a longer distance worth three points each. As a result, the timed rounds were now 70 seconds long and the maximum total score increased from 34 to 40.

Below, find the best rounds in the history of the 3-point contest, including the total possible points to identify the era in which the record was set.

Best rounds

Most points in a round
RankPlayerScoreOut ofYear
1,Stephen Curry31402021
2.Devin Booker28342018
3.Stephen Curry27342019
 Klay Thompson27342016
 Stephen Curry27342015
6.Joe Harris26342019
 Buddy Hield26342019
 Davis Bertans26402020
9.Jason Kapono25302008
 Craig Hodges25301986
 Klay Thompson25342018
 Eric Gordon25342017

 

Most points in the final round
RankPlayerScoreOut ofYear
1.Karl-Anthony Towns29402022
2.Devin Booker28342018
 Stephen Curry28402021
3.Klay Thompson27342016
 Stephen Curry27342015
5.Joe Harris26342019
6.Jason Kapono25302008
 Klay Thompson25342018
8.Jason Kapono24302007
 Mark Price24301994
 Stephen Curry24342019
 Marco Belinelli24342014

 

Most shots made in one round
RankPlayerShotsYear
1.Craig Hodges21/251991
 Craig Hodges21/251998
2.Devin Booker20/252018
 Stephen Curry20/252015
 Kyrie Irving20/252013
 Jason Kapono20/252008
 Mark Price20/251994
8.Buddy Hield19/252020
 Jason Kapono19/252007
 Hubert Davis19/251998

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Most 3-point contest wins

Seven players have won the 3-point contest more than once, with Larry Bird and Craig Hodges leading the way with three titles apiece. Both Bird and Hodges won for three consecutive years.

Of multi-time winners, Stephen Curry is the only one that did not repeat. Hornacek's repeat titles came in 1998 and 2000 because there was no All-Star Game in 1999 due to the league lockout.

Most 3-point contest wins
RankPlayerWinsYears
1.Craig Hodges31990, 1991, 1992
 Larry Bird31986, 1987, 1988
3.Stephen Curry22015, 2021
 Jason Kapono22007, 2008
 Peja Stojakovic22002, 2003
 Jeff Hornacek21998, 2000
 Mark Price21993, 1994