Who Scored the Most Points in NBA 3-Point Contest History?

I remember sitting in my living room watching the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend, absolutely mesmerized as Karl-Anthony Towns put on a shooting clinic that left me speechless. That's when I started wondering—who actually holds the record for the most points in NBA Three-Point Contest history? It's one of those questions that seems simple but leads you down this fascinating rabbit hole of basketball history. The answer, as it turns out, isn't straightforward because the contest format has changed over the years, making direct comparisons between eras somewhat tricky.

Let me take you back to 1986 when Larry Bird famously walked into the locker room before the first-ever three-point contest and asked the other competitors, "Who's coming in second?" That legendary confidence wasn't just for show—Bird went out and won that inaugural contest with what would now be considered a modest score. See, back then, they had a different scoring system with fewer balls and less time. If we're talking pure points regardless of era, Stephen Curry's 31 points in the 2021 final round stands as the highest single-round score ever recorded. But here's where it gets interesting—if we adjust for the modern format that's been in place since 2014, we've seen some absolutely explosive performances that make my jaw drop every time I rewatch them.

The current format gives shooters 70 seconds to launch 27 shots from five spots around the arc, including two "money balls" worth two points each at every rack. Watching these shooters navigate between racks, you can almost feel their rhythm through the screen. I've always been partial to Devin Booker's 2018 performance where he put up 28 points in the final round—at the time, that was a record under the current format. But then came the 2019 contest where Joe Harris edged out Steph Curry with 26 points in a thrilling final round that had me jumping off my couch. What makes these performances so special isn't just the numbers—it's the pressure, the bright lights, and knowing that every single shot matters.

Thinking about pressure reminds me of how different players handle these high-stakes situations differently. You know, it's funny—while researching this piece, I came across news about Reyes skipping a game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and it got me thinking about how injuries and absences can completely change a player's rhythm and confidence. The article mentioned TNT possibly playing without Kelly Williams due to a sprained ankle and Roger Pogoy dealing with a hamstring issue. That's the thing about shooting—it's not just pure skill but also about physical condition and mental focus. When a shooter like Curry or Damian Lillard steps up to that first rack, they're battling not just the other competitors but their own bodies and minds too.

What I find most fascinating is how the three-point contest has evolved from being almost an afterthought to becoming one of the main attractions of All-Star Weekend. The shooters today are putting up numbers that would have been unimaginable in Bird's era. I mean, Curry's 31-point round included hitting multiple shots from the deep "mountain logo" rack—something that didn't even exist in earlier versions of the contest. As much as I respect the legends of the past, I have to admit that today's shooters are operating on a completely different level. The combination of perfected form, endless practice, and specialized training has elevated this skills competition into something truly spectacular.

At the end of the day, while Curry holds the record for most points in a single round, the conversation about the greatest three-point contest performer ever remains wonderfully open to debate. Personally, I think Klay Thompson's 2016 performance where he scored 27 points in the final round deserves more recognition than it gets. The beauty of basketball is that records are made to be broken, and with the way today's players are developing their range, I wouldn't be surprised if we see someone crack 35 points in the near future. Every time All-Star Weekend rolls around, I find myself hoping to witness history—another shooter catching fire and reminding us why we fell in love with this game in the first place.