The NBA dropped the ball.
Then they picked it up and shot an airball.
That’s how bad of a miss it is that New Orleans’ Pelicans sharp-shooter Trey Murphy wasn’t selected for Saturday's 3-point contest during NBA All-Star weekend.
The most 3-pointers made in a game this season is 12.
One of the guys to do that is Steph Curry, the greatest shooter the NBA has ever seen.
The other is Murphy, who set a franchise record when he drained a dozen treys last week against the Milwaukee Bucks. Too bad Murphy won't get to show the rest of the NBA what he can do from long range.
“I would’ve participated if I was invited, for sure,” Murphy said.
It's a shame he wasn’t.
Murphy, who is shooting 38 % on 3-pointers heading into Wednesday’s game against the Miami Heat, ranks sixth in the league in made 3-pointers. He’s made 166 this season, which is 166 more than Portland Trail Blazers’ guard Damian Lillard has made. Lillard, as you know, is sitting out this season rehabbing the torn Achilles he injured in last season’s playoffs. Despite not playing this season, Lillard will be in Saturday’s 3-point contest at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Selecting a player who hasn’t played a minute all season seems absurd for a weekend that is supposed to showcase the biggest stars this season. The other seven participants are Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Devin Booker (Suns), Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Tyrese Maxey (76ers), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Bobby Portis (Bucks) and Norman Powell (Heat). Mitchell, Knueppel and Maxey are the only ones in the contest with more made 3’s and have a better percentage than Murphy.
Murphy has a much stronger case to be in it than Lillard, Booker and Portis.
Booker is shooting just 30 % on 3-pointers and has made just 71. (almost 100 less than Murphy).
Portis is shooting 45.6%, but has only attempted 206 3-pointers (less than half of how many Murphy has attempted).
Murphy has done some of his best shooting lately. He’s made 23 3-pointers over the last three games.
“I’m really just shooting the ball, being confident,” Murphy said. “Sticking to my mechanics and getting my legs under my shots. I feel like before that Milwaukee game, there was about a week or so where I really wasn’t getting my legs into my shot.”
His teammates have noticed the difference.
“Trey has always been lights out,” said Zion Williamson. “Now it’s just a matter of how he’s doing it. Instead of just catch and shoot, it’s off the dribble now and (also) catch and shoot. It’s still lights out though.”
If only the NBA was paying attention. Playing on a team with just 15 wins and zero nationally televised games didn’t help Murphy’s case. But I’d counter that by pointing out that Pascal Siakam of the 13-win Indiana Pacers was selected for the All-Star game.
Lillard and Booker are both former 3-point contest champions, so that surely helped. And they are household names to even the most casual of NBA fans.
Murphy, in his fifth NBA season, is slowly but surely getting there. He's already the Pelicans’ all-time leader in made 3-pointers. So maybe this will fuel his fire even more.
“I’ve got the same approach every day,” Murphy said. “Just getting better. Play my game. At some point, it’ll be recognized that I’m one of the better shooters in the league. Until then, it is what it is. I’ll keep working on my game and shooting the ball like I have been. Not being in the 3-point contest is not going to ruin my day.”
But was he snubbed?
Murphy smiled before answering that question.
“I’ll let y’all be the judge of that.”
This judge says "yes."