The All-Star Weekend is all about superstars engaging themselves in various competitions away from their comfort zone, giving fans an opportunity to witness spectacular moments in such competitions through their superstars.
However, one of the best shooters of all-time, Stephen Curry has been winning the three-point contest so effortlessly that he now doesn’t participate in the contest as often, giving young bloods a chance for victory.
Why did Stephen Curry stop participating in 3-point contest?
The first player that comes to mind when one thinks about the three-point contest is Stephen Curry. Known for his impressive accuracy when it comes to shooting from far, the superstar has his name attached to uncountable records tied to the three-pointer.
The three-point contest is considered as the best testament to a player’s shooting skill. While many stars have crumbled under the bright lights of the contest, Stephen Curry has not been stopped and only seems to prove his excellence, shooting impeccably well. Over the years, however, Curry’s participation in the contest has slimmed down, leaving fans wondering as to why the player isn’t a permanent participant of the competition.
Curry entered the contest for the first time in his rookie year, facing tough competition but falling short in his initial attempt. Undeterred, he returned for back-to-back appearances from 2012 to 2014, yet victory eluded him once again. However, persistence paid off, as Curry made his third consecutive appearance and finally clinched victory in his fourth attempt. After this win, he began taking a break from the competition without specifying a reason.
In 2017, Curry expressed the effort and stress that went into the event, citing it as the reason for his absence from the contest. Curry said, “I’ve done it six times I think, I told myself I was going to do it until I won. And then I won. And then I had to defend. And then Klay beat me. So it’s a little bit of an internal battle.”
“But honestly, this All-Star Weekend is kind of the slowest, schedule-wise, I’ve had and I wanted to capitalize off that rest. So it was a tough decision ’cause I love the spotlight of being out there shooting, competing with the field and yourself. It’s so much fun to be out there with the lights and the atmosphere, just you and the rim. But I put a lot of equity into that contest and it’s time to kind of move on.”
Much to fans’ surprise, Stephen Curry made a comeback to the event in 2018 and emerged victorious. More recently, in the 2020-21 season, he participated in the shooting competition for what is believed to be his final appearance.
Curry holds the record for the most points scored in a round with 31 and for the most points scored in the final, tallying 28 out of a possible 40 points.
Now, the superstar is on the quest for new adventures having already experienced the joy of winning the illustrious competition. Apart from his storied success, the player has been growing older which stresses the need for rest and recovery, something Stephen Curry desperately needs for carrying the Warriors, night after night.
Curry’s absence also presents the opportunity for young superstars like Trae Young and Tyrese Haliburton to establish themselves as premium shooters in the league, while Curry chases new contests like the inaugural Stephen Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu three-point showdown held earlier today.
Is Damian Lillard taking advantage of Curry’s absence?
One of the main superstars who has benefitted from Stephen Curry’s continuous absence from the three-point contest is superstar Damian Lillard.
Similar to Curry, Lillard entered the league shortly after being drafted, but he wasn’t a regular participant in the contest. After solidifying his position as one of the league’s top players, Lillard decided to rejoin the contest in 2018. However, he encountered a similar outcome as his first attempt, leaving the event without a victory.
Marking his third attempt for success, Lillard return to the competition in 2023 and was back with a bang. With no realistic competitor apart from Tyrese Haliburton, the former Portland Trail Blazers star cruised to victory. Earlier today, the superstar repeated his success, this time as a Milwaukee Bucks player.
Needing one more shot to win, Lillard missed the first four shots of his final rack but then in typical ‘Dame Time’ fashion, the player hit his final shot with seconds to spare, winning the competition for the second straight year in a row, tying Curry’s wins in the contest. Without a doubt, a competition between the two stars would be absolute fireworks and a joy for NBA fans all over the world.
What did Stephen Curry say about Sabrina Ionescu following his win?
This year’s All-Star Weekend saw the debut of one of the best events in the history of the league. Legendary sharpshooter Stephen Curry took on one of the WNBA’s finest, Sabrina Ionescu, who is arguably the best female shooter and the WNBA’s three-point contest defending champion in a one of its kind, head-to-head event.
With the shots they make going towards charity, both superstars gave hard competition against each other. Sabrina gave Curry a run for his money but stood no chance to Curry’s absolute shooting masterclass, emerging victorious against his female counterpart.
Following the event, Curry spoke on the importance of the event and cherished his showdown with Ionescu. Curry said, “For us to deliver a show like that, it was perfect… This will be something we’ll remember for a long time.”
Following the success of the event, former NBA legend Isiah Thomas suggested the inclusion of college superstar Caitlin Clark who is the leading scorer in the NCAA Women’s Division. He also blatantly suggested that Curry was not the greatest shooter of all-time. With the type of season Clark is having, it is not too far-fetched to dream of a contest between the three stars, next time round.
