According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the NBA Three-Point Contest Participants have been announced, with one glaring omission.
Sources: Among the commitments for the NBA Three-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis:
Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, Milwaukee's Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley, New York's Jalen Brunson and Utah's Lauri Markkanen.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2024
Charania states that this year's participants include Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, Milwaukee's Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley, New York's Jalen Brunson and Utah's Lauri Markkanen.
Here's how each player shakes out in terms of their three-point shooting success this season:
- Haliburton: 121 made; shooting 39.8%
- Lillard: 139 made; shooting 34.7%
- Beasley: 133 made; shooting 45.1%
- Brunson: 130 made; shooting 41.3%
- Markkanen: 133 made; shooting 40.1%
Fans on X, of course, reacted strongly to this announcement. Notably, many wondered why Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, who's shooting 49.1% from three-point range, wasn't in the contest.
The NBA?s best 3pt shooter this season left off?
Third straight year the Suns get screwed! https://t.co/Biyp4JBYpz
— Saul Bookman (@Saul_Bookman) February 5, 2024
"The NBA's best 3pt shooter this season left off? Third straight year the Suns get screwed!" someone said.
The league?s 3PT% leader does not appear to be a participant in the Three-Point contest. https://t.co/IrDh67wIhL
— PHX Fans (@PHXFansAZ) February 5, 2024
"The league's 3PT% leader does not appear to be a participant in the Three-Point contest," another user wrote
The best 3 point shooter in the league (Grayson Allen) isn?t even gonna be in the contest cuz the NBA refuses to recognize talent in Phoenix, just a joke at this point considering we?ve Cam J, Damion Lee and now Grayson https://t.co/ZAC39v7zDw
— ???? ?? (@alex7xr) February 5, 2024
"The best 3 point shooter in the league (Grayson Allen) isn't even gonna be in the contest cuz the NBA refuses to recognize talent in Phoenix, just a joke at this point considering we've Cam J, Damion Lee and now Grayson," another user wrote, hoping for Allen to be in the contest.
this is insane man Grayson Allen has made 114 threes on a league leading 49% and has multiple performances like this btw how is he not here https://t.co/WTULec29B6 pic.twitter.com/gCHhpuqxDD
— A ? (@adryanashton) February 5, 2024
"this is insane man Grayson Allen has made 114 threes on a league leading 49% and has multiple performances like this btw how is he not here," someone else said about Allen.
Haliiiiiii https://t.co/Joir0SMzKm
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) February 5, 2024
"Haliiiiiii," our own Tyler Brooke, noted Indiana Pacers fan, said.
Allen snubbed from the contest is notable. He's made 114 threes on 232 attempts this season, leading the league at 49.1%. No one inside the top four in three-point shooting percentage in the contest. In addition to Allen, that includes Aaron Nesmith, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard.
The best three-point shooter from the bunch, percentage-wise, is Beasley. He's fifth in the league at 45.1%, tied with Leonard.
Now, we look toward the NBA All-Star Weekend. The Three-Point Contest will occur on Saturday, February 17.
