The Slam Dunk Contest once reigned supreme and may still headline NBA All-Star Saturday night, but for some time, the 3-Point Contest has been the most entertaining event.
While the Dunk Contest struggles to get star talent and forces dunkers to get exceedingly more creative, the 3-Point Contest consistently gets the league's top shooters and always delivers exactly what fans expect.
The level of competition rises as the league's most prolific marksmen get hot and attempt to outdo one another. The format has changed a little over the years, but the excitement has not waned at all.
With great shooters in an era defined by 3-point shooting, the contest has provided some remarkable shooting performances. Here are some of the most impressive showings in the history of the NBA's 3-Point Contest.
MORE:Rules, scoring, format for NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest
NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest records
Since its inception in 1986, the 3-Point Contest has seen a few changes.
In 2014, the league introduced a rack compromised completely of "Money Balls" worth two points, increasing the maximum total score of a round from 30 to 34.
For the 2020 event, the league introduced two additional shots from a longer distance worth three points each. The timed rounds increased from 60 to 70 seconds long and the maximum total score once again increased to 40.
Here are 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.
Most points in a round
Rank Player Score Out of Year
1. Stephen Curry 31 40 2021
Tyrese Haliburton 31 40 2023
Buddy Hield 31 40 2025
4. Karl-Anthony Towns 29 40 2022
5. Devin Booker 28 34 2018
Luke Kennard 28 40 2022
7. Stephen Curry 27 34 2015
Stephen Curry 27 34 2019
Klay Thompson 27 34 2016
Devin Booker 27 40 2020
Buddy Hield 27 40 2020
Mike Conley 27 40 2021
Most points in the final round
Rank Player Score Out of Year
1. Karl-Anthony Towns 29 40 2022
2. Devin Booker 28 34 2018
Stephen Curry 28 40 2021
4. Klay Thompson 27 34 2016
Stephen Curry 27 34 2015
Buddy Hield 27 40 2020
Mike Conley 27 40 2021
8. Joe Harris 26 34 2019
Devin Booker 26 40 2020
Damian Lillard 26 40 2023
Luke Kennard 26 40 2022
Trae Young 26 40 2022
Most shots made in one round
Rank Player Shots Year
1. Craig Hodges 21/25 1991
Craig Hodges 21/25 1998
3. Devin Booker 20/25 2018
Stephen Curry 20/25 2021
Stephen Curry 20/25 2015
Kyrie Irving 20/25 2013
Jason Kapono 20/25 2008
Mark Price 20/25 1994
Mike Conley 20/25 2021
Karl-Anthony Towns 20/25 2022
Tyrese Haliburton 20/25 2023
Most consecutive shots made
Rank Player Shots Season
1. Craig Hodges 19 1991
2. Stephen Curry 13 2015
3. Joe Harris 12 2019
4. Larry Bird 11 1986
Hubert Davis 11 1996
Stephen Curry 11 2016
7. Jason Kapono 10 2008
Ray Allen 10 2011
Kyrie Irving 10 2013
Stephen Curry 10 2019
MORE:Revisiting the history of the NBA 3-Point Contest
Most 3-Point Contest wins
Eight 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 in three consecutive years.
Damian Lillard, winner of the last two contests, has a chance to become the third player ever to win three consecutive.
Of multi-time winners, Stephen Curry is the only one that did not repeat. Jeff 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
Rank Player Wins Years
1. Craig Hodges 3 1990, 1991, 1992
Larry Bird 3 1986, 1987, 1988
3. Damian Lillard 2 2023, 2024
Stephen Curry 2 2015, 2021
Jason Kapono 2 2007, 2008
Peja Stojakovic 2 2002, 2003
Jeff Hornacek 2 1998, 2000
Mark Price 2 1993, 1994
MORE:How much does the NBA's 3-Point Contest winner make?