We’ve got a loaded NBA All-Star Saturday to take in this weekend. The State Farm 3-Point Contest is loaded with talent and promises a whole lot of excitement. Let’s get into the field, then pick our best bets for this shootout on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Kon Knueppel | Guard, Charlotte Hornets (+400)
A rookie being favored in the most hotly contested skills challenge in the league feels crazy. But Kon Knueppel is that good.
The 20-year-old had a calling card as a shooter coming into the draft. He’s delivering on that promise for the Hornets and more, knocking down 3.4 threes per game on a scalding 42.8% efficiency. Already one of the best shooters in the game, this contest is a chance for the rookie to stamp his ascent.
Damian Lillard | Guard, Portland Trail Blazers (+425)
Not even a torn Achilles can stop Damian Lillard from competing in the 3-Point Contest. The 2023 and 2024 champion is trying to capture his third title in four years, despite being out for the entire regular season.
How Dame moves is anyone’s guess. You do need to have a bit of hustle moving between the shooting racks, especially with the deep shot balls added to the competition. I’d imagine the Trail Blazers staff emphasized caution. We’ll see if that lack of speed affects him.
Jamal Murray | Guard, Denver Nuggets (+550)
The Blue Arrow finally makes his way to the All-Star Game and the 3-Point Contest. Jamal Murray is long overdue for an appearance in both events, and he comes in riding a career-high 3.4 threes per game at 42.8% accuracy — seemingly ready to light things up. Will he sweep up a trophy in his debut appearance?
Tyrese Maxey | Guard, Philadelphia 76ers (+600)
We’ve got another first-time entrant here. Tyrese Maxey is another elite on-ball shooter, making 37.9% of his 8.8 attempted threes per game. It’s a long-overdue achievement for the electric Sixers guard, who is close to setting some franchise history.
The 25-year-old is unstoppable when he gets hot. If he can tap into one of those hot streaks, this could be his night.
Donovan Mitchell | Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers (+600)
This will be the third 3-Point Contest appearance for Donovan Mitchell, and he’s hoping it doesn’t end like the last two. A consistently underrated shooter, Mitchell is leading the NBA in made threes this season and shooting a solid 37.7% from downtown. But when you’re going up against the best shooters in the world, sometimes your best isn’t enough.
Devin Booker | Guard, Phoenix Suns (+750)
On paper, Devin Booker is a dubious inclusion. Shooting a career-low 31.1% from three this season, it seems a strange time to put him here. But he knows how to win in these contests. This will be Book’s fifth appearance in the contest; he won in 2018 while making appearances in 2016, 2019, and 2020. Now he’s back and seeking his second title.
Book’s shooting numbers don’t inspire much confidence. But he has set records for scores in these contests before, and he’s as capable as anyone when he finds a rhythm.
Norman Powell | Guard, Miami Heat (+800)
Norman Powell’s story going into this All-Star Weekend is a story of perseverance. The 32-year-old made his first All-Star Game this year, and it’s well-deserved, with “Stormin Norman” scoring 23 points per game for the Heat. He’s burying 39.6% of his threes this year — more than enough to earn a second-straight bid to the 3-Point Contest.
Powell couldn’t get out of the first round last year. Can he flip the script this year?
Bobby Portis | Forward, Milwaukee Bucks (+1300)
The only big man in this contest, Bobby Portis, was a surprise inclusion to most. Even so, he has the best shooting percentage of any player in this contest at 45.6%, which is somehow not a career-high.
If Portis wins, he’d be the fourth-ever big man to win the contest, joining Karl-Anthony Towns (2022), Kevin Love (2012), and Dirk Nowitzki (2006). Talk about some elite company.
Now that we know who’s participating, let’s pick some best bets for this one.
3-Point Contest Best Bets
I always like tossing a few bets in on this kind of contest. You find a couple of values and let it roll.
Damian Lillard does have some value here. But it’s strange to have a legitimate injury concern in a 3-Point Contest, and that’s enough for me to shy away from him. Instead, I’m looking just behind him at Jamal Murray. He’s on a shooting tear this year and has the quickness to succeed in this contest. I really like him to win it all at +550.
I also see the value with Portis. He may be a bit slower than the field, but we know he can knock down the shots. At +1300, I am hammering the value on Bobby Buckets to win outright. If you’re feeling gun-shy about him winning outright, Portis to score 25+ in round one at +310 is also strong value.
The contest kicks off on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. Buckle up for an exciting night.
