Suns’ Devin Booker back in NBA’s 3-point contest to defend title
Feb 5, 2019, 6:15 PM | Updated: 6:21 pm
Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker shoots during the NBA basketball All-Star weekend 3-point contest Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, in Los Angeles. Booker won the event. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Devin Booker is going to have the chance to defend his title.
The Phoenix Suns’ 22-year-old shooting guard is in the All-Star Weekend’s three-point shootout competition that he won last year, taking place on Feb. 16 in Charlotte.
Booker won the three-point contest last season in Los Angeles, recording 19 points in his first round before a bonkers 28 in the championship round.
.@DevinBook went off for 28 PTS in his 2nd #JBL3PT run! š±š±š± pic.twitter.com/jp4CenACfj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 18, 2018
He defeated Los Angeles Clippers forward Tobias Harris and Golden State Warriors guard and 2016 winner Klay Thompson in that final round to win the competition.
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āI always said I wanted to represent my city the best I can,ā Booker told reporters after the contest. āSo season not going how we planned, but I know a lot of the city was ready for the All-Star Weekend, having somebody participate.”
This will be Booker’s third time competing in the competition and second year in a row. He has competed in an All-Star Saturday Night event every year. Booker placed third in his rookie year in the three-point contest, was the runner-up in the skills challenge his second year and won the three-point contest in his third season.
Booker is having the worst three-point shooting season of his young career. After increasing his three-point shooting percentage by two percent two years in a row up to 38.3 percent last season, he is below 33 percent this season on over six attempts a game.
Even with that in mind, Booker is still having a terrific season, averaging 24.9 points and 6.7 assists per game.
Among the other competitorsĀ in the competition include Warriors guard Stephen Curry in his hometown, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki and Hornets point guard Kemba Walker. Rounding out the field are Bucks wing Khris Middleton, Raptors guard Danny Green, Trail Blazers guard Seth Curry, Nets guard Joe Harris and Kings shooting guard Buddy Hield.
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