Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has become the best three-point shooter in recent years, but on Saturday his teammate Klay Thompson reminded everyone why he is among the best NBA shooters by winning the 2016 All-Star Three-Point contest in Toronto, Canada.
Thompson finished the final round with 27 points, four more than Curry, who won last year’s contest.
Curry shot before Thompson in the final round, making his first seven shots and putting up 23 points which, until that point, was the best score of the night. However, Thompson made 19 of 25 in the final round to claim the title.
Thompson and Curry – two major players for the Warriors – entered the contest as favourites, and they lived up to the expectations, sending a sell-out crowd at Air Canada Centre into a frenzy.
“He’s the best shooter I’ve ever seen, so this is a rare occurrence that he loses. I’m just happy I caught him on an off night,” Thompson said after the contest.
Thompson also commented on his friendship to Curry, but when asked how long he will be retain bragging rights over Curry because of the three-point contest win, Thompson replied: “About 364 days, and then – but that’s a daily thing we do. We love to shoot against each other. I’ve never been on a team with someone who shoots it better than me, so it’s a privilege to work with him every day. He makes me that much better.”
Meanwhile, Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker was third, with 16 points in the final round. He beat the Rockets’ James Harden and JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Clippers to get out of the first round, while the Raptors’ Kyle Lowry, Portland Trail Blazers’ CJ McCollum and Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton were eliminated early.
LaVine Slam Dunk champion again
Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic to repeat as the NBA Slam Dunk champion on Saturday after both impressed with gravity-defying displays of athleticism and imagination.
In one of the most riveting Slam Dunk contests in recent years, LaVine and Gordon went toe-to-toe in the first two rounds of the final round and then needed a pair of tie-breakers, where the former sealed it with his fourth consecutive perfect 50 score.
LaVine, a 20-year-old second-year NBA player, joined Michael Jordan (1987-88), Jason Richardson (2002-03) and Nate Robinson (2009-10) as the only players to win consecutive Slam Dunk contests.
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