NBA 3-Point Contest 2017: Klay Thompson returns, but Stephen Curry passes
The Three-Point Contest has quickly become the co-main event of All-Star Saturday Night (Feb. 18, 8 p.m., TNT), along with the Slam Dunk Contest. As NBA players launch more deep bombs in games, the spectacle of seeing the best players nail shot after shot has become more exciting.
Last year’s event culminated in a scorching display of shots between the two Splash Brothers. Klay Thompson set the standard by nailing 27 points in his final round, and it was just enough to hold off Stephen Curry in the end. In the process, Thompson enacted his revenge on Curry after the latter came from behind to win in 2015.
This year Thompson will be the lone Splash Brother and defend his title against a new cast of characters. Curry was invited, but decided not to compete.
Here are the contestants.
Klay Thompson (21.3 points per game, .403 three-point percentage, 149 threes made)
Thompson is the reigning Three-Point Contest winner, taking the victory last year in Toronto in a shootout against Curry. Though Curry has the two best three-point shooting seasons, Thompson’s last season ranks third on the all-time list. We know how good he is when he gets hot, too — 37-point quarter, anyone?
The 2013 Three-Point Contest winner isn’t traditionally seen as a deep marksman, but just ask Stephen Curry about his three-point proficiency. He’s shooting nearly 40 percent from downtown this year, which isn’t quite as good as he shot in 2014-15, but is far better than his percentage from last year.
Walker’s appearance in this contest demonstrates just how far he’s come. Once upon a time, three-point shooting was his major…
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