NBA Three-Point contest winners: 5 best performances in showpiece event in league history

Over the years, the NBA 3-point contest has become a focal point of All-Star weekend. Given how many sharpshooters there are in the league now, the competition rarely disappoints.

That being said, here are some of the best performances in history.

#1 Jason Kapono (2008)

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New Orleans Hornets

Starting things off is an NBA 3-point contest from beyond the spaced-out era. During the late 2000s, Jason Kapono was one of the few 3-point specialists in the league.

After winning the contest in 2007, Kapono returned in 2008 to defend his crown. He went on to light up the scoreboard as he defended his title by finishing with a score of 25 out of a possible 30.

Kapono knocked down 10 shots in a row and became the only player in history to win the 3-point contest with two different teams.

#2 Mark Price (1994)

Indiana Pacers v Cleveland Cavaliers

Next up is another multi-time NBA 3-point contest winner from before the change of play. During the 1990s, Mark Price was an All-Star and efficient marksman from beyond the arc.

In his 1994 win, Price led all competitors in each of the three rounds. He also went on to dominate the final run by finishing with a score of 24 out of a possible 30. Price played 12 years in the NBA and finished with a career 3-point percentage of 40.2.

#3 Stephen Curry (2021)

Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

As expected, Steph Curry's name pops up when discussing the NBA 3-point contest. The Golden State Warriors star is also a multi-time winner and made history during his 2021 victory.

In recent years, the league has decided to add more shots to the competition, upping the score to a possible 40. With more points available, Curry made history with the highest score for any round ever with 31. When it comes to the 3-point shot, nobody does it better than him.

#4 Dirk Nowitzki (2006)

Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs

When history is made, it needs to be noted. That being said, Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki etched his name in the history books with his win in 2006.

As a 40% 3-point shooter at his peak, Nowitzki decided to compete in the NBA 3-point contest. Not only did he enter the mix, but he became the first seven-footer in league history to win the contest. The following year, he went on to win the only MVP award of his career.

During his 21 years in the NBA, Dirk shot 38% from beyond the arc.

#5 Karl-Anthony Towns (2022)

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards

Rounding out the list is the most recent winner of the NBA 3-point contest, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also made history with his victory in Cleveland last year.

In today's game, all five players on the court take their game beyond that arc. That is why we saw a center like Towns enter the mix. After ending the final round with 29 points out of 40, he became the only center in history to win the event.