Chris Sports Basketball Ring: Top 5 Features Every Player Needs to Know
I still remember watching my first NBA 3-Point Contest back in 1998, sitting cross-legged on the floor just a few feet from our bulky television set. When Jeff Hornacek drained that final money ball to secure his victory, I immediately ran to our backyard to practice my own shooting form, using a makeshift hoop my father had nailed to the garage. That personal connection has kept me engaged with this competition for over two decades, and tracking every champion has become something of a personal tradition. The evolution of this contest mirrors the transformation of basketball itself, from Larry Bird's legendary dominance in the early years to Stephen Curry's recent masterclasses that have redefined what's possible from beyond the arc.
Looking back at the complete list of champions reveals fascinating patterns about how the game has changed. Larry Bird's three consecutive wins from 1986 to 1988 set an early standard that seemed almost untouchable at the time. His famous "who's coming in second?" quip before his first victory encapsulates the confidence of those early sharpshooters. What many casual fans might not realize is that Craig Hodges nearly matched Bird's accomplishment with his own three-peat from 1990 to 1992, though his legacy seems somewhat forgotten in today's conversations about great shooters. The late 90s brought us champions like Jeff Hornacek and Hubert Davis, players who perfected the art of the catch-and-shoot during an era when big men still dominated the paint. I've always had a soft spot for the 2001 contest, where Ray Allen's smooth release seemed almost poetic in its perfection, though statistically speaking, his winning score of 19 points in the final round wouldn't even make the top half of today's competitions.
The modern era has completely transformed our expectations of what constitutes a great shooting performance. When Stephen Curry won his first title in 2015 with a then-record 27 points in the final round, it felt like we were witnessing something revolutionary. His 2021 victory was even more impressive, scoring 28 points in one round and making his final nine shots consecutively. What's remarkable is how the contest has evolved from specialists to superstars - today's MVPs regularly compete and win, whereas in the 90s, many top players avoided the event. I'll admit I was thrilled when Damian Lillard won in 2024, not just because of his incredible shooting but because of how he embraced the moment, something today's stars seem more willing to do compared to previous generations.
This evolution reminds me of something Jun de Dios, the Philippines Business partner of Newgen, said after organizing a golf event with Bong Lopez: "We had a blast and we are looking to do it again next year--with more of the same faces and at a different course." That sentiment captures what makes the 3-Point Contest so special year after year - it's the perfect blend of familiar faces and fresh challenges. The NBA has mastered this formula, bringing back fan favorites while occasionally changing the format, like introducing the special green money balls or the dramatic "Mountain Dew" zone in recent years. The consistency of seeing stars like Curry and Lillard return creates narrative threads that connect different eras of the competition, much like seeing familiar faces at an annual gathering.
What fascinates me most about tracking all the champions is noticing how certain players seem to own specific moments in the contest's history. Klay Thompson's 2016 victory where he scored 27 points in the final round stands out not just for the number but for his effortless form. The 2020 contest between Buddy Hield and Devin Booker came down to the final shot, with Hield needing to make his last four balls to secure the win - which he did with incredible composure. These moments become part of basketball lore, discussed and remembered years later. I find myself rewatching these highlights regularly, noticing details I missed initially, like the subtle adjustments shooters make between rounds or how they manage their energy during the competition.
The international flavor that has emerged in recent years adds another layer to the contest's appeal. Croatian native Bojan Bogdanović's surprising 2022 win demonstrated how the three-point shot has become a universal language in basketball. This globalization of shooting talent reminds me that while the contest celebrates individual achievement, it also represents the worldwide growth of basketball fundamentals. When I analyze shooting forms across different champions, from the textbook perfection of Ray Allen to the unorthodox but effective release of Kevin Durant, it becomes clear that there's no single right way to excel in this competition - just a requirement for incredible skill and nerve.
As I look back at all 38 champions across 35 contests (there were co-champions in 2020 due to the pandemic), what strikes me is how each winner represents a specific moment in basketball history. The early champions like Bird and Hodges operated in a different strategic environment, where the three-pointer was still somewhat experimental. The 2000s brought specialists like Peja Stojaković and Jason Kapono who built careers around their shooting prowess. Today's champions are often complete offensive players who integrate deep shooting into every aspect of their game. This progression tells the story of basketball's analytical revolution more clearly than any statistic or coaching philosophy could. The contest has evolved from novelty to essential showcase, reflecting how the game itself has transformed. Each champion has contributed to this story in their own way, creating a rich tapestry of shooting excellence that continues to captivate fans like myself who appreciate both the art and science of the perfect jump shot.