The 3 Point Contest is an annual event that features some of the best shooters in the NBA. The goal of the competition is to make as many 3 point shots from various positions on the court as possible.
The players have 70 seconds (previously it was one minute) to make the shots from five main shooting locations on the court, behind the three-point line. It was first done at the NBA All-Star game in 1986 and it has since become an annual event.
MTN DEW 3 Point Contest
The competition is held during the All-Star Weekend, on Saturday before the All-Star Game. At first, it was sponsored by American Airlines, only in 2018 getting the Mountain Dew Sponsorship. As the soda brand changed its name from Mountain Dew to MTN Dew, the contest followed with said change.
Five Traditional Shooting Locations
The balls are situated in five racks. Two racks are positioned on the left and the right of the backboard, one is directly upfront and two more are put diagonally.
MTN DEW Zone
In 2020 three-point contests underwent significant change. MTN Dew introduced the MTN DEW Zone. Two balls are situated on pedestals and a successful shot attempt made with that special green Mountain Dew ball is worth 3 points, allowing the players to score six more points in the competition. The MTN Dew Zone pedestals are located 30 feet from the hoop.
Official NBA Game Balls
Four of the racks consist of five balls, four of them being the traditional Spalding balls used in NBA games. Successful shots made with the orange Spalding balls are worth one point. At the end of every rack, there is one more ball called the “money ball”.
Money Ball
“Money ball” differentiates not only in color but also in the number of points a successful field goal attempt can be worth for a player. Money balls are worth two points. Before 2014, only the last balls on every rack were money balls.
Now, the player can choose which rack they want to swap, for a one consisting only of money balls. It changed the maximum score from 30 to 34. Adding up the money ball rack, the traditional racks, and two ball pedestals, the maximum possible score is 40. In 2020 the time for making the shots was prolonged to 70 seconds.
Two Rounds
The first round is more like a qualification. Players participate in a timed shooting competition and three of them with the best score are going to the final round. The final round has the same competition format as the qualifying round, with players shooting according to their first-round scores in order. There is one abbreviation for the final round participants. The players start from the reverse direction. Right-handed players have to start from right to left and left-handed players are going from left to right.
MTN Dew 3 Point Contest Winners
Here are the Winners of the 3 point contest from 2018, when it was first organized under the Mountain Dew Logo were:
In 2018 Devin Booker from the Phoenix Suns.
In 2019 Joe Harris from Brooklyn Nets.
In 2020 Buddy Hield from Sacramento Kings.
In 2021 Stephen Curry from Golden State Warriors.
2021 MTN DEW 3 Point Contest
The 2021 MTN Dew 3 Point Contest was held at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Due to the new rules, and, of course, incredible 3 point skill and talent, current NBA All-Star Stephen Curry broke the record in the 3 point contest with 31 points.
All Star-Weekend
One of the most awaited weekends of the year has many attractions! We can watch current NBA All-Stars battle it out in the All-Star Game, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, and Slam Dunk Contest.
And of course, The MTN DEW 3 Point Contest is one of the most anticipated events on the NBA’s All-Star Weekend. It’s an opportunity for some of today’s best shooters to show off their skills! The new NBA three point contest rules have made it even more exciting, which will surely make this year’s event all that much better! It’s fun to consider what the next year will bring and if there will be any changes to the contest’s format. We can’t wait until 2022 when we’ll maybe get to see Stephen Curry shoot again!
What is the most points scored in the 3-point contest?
Craig Hodges holds the record for most shots made in one round (21/25), as well as most consecutive shots made (19) and most appearances (8). Stephen Curry currently holds the record with 31 points, albeit in the newer 40-point format.
Has anyone made all the shots in the 3-Point Contest?
No. Craig Hodges was the closest to making all of them, with 21 out of 25.
How much is the Mountain Dew ball worth in 3pt contest?
It’s worth two points.
When was the 3 point line added to the NBA?
The 3-point line was introduced to the NBA for the 1979-1980 season. The addition of the 3-point line was a significant change to the game, adding a new strategic element and allowing for more scoring opportunities.
The distance of the 3-point line has varied over the years, and the NBA has experimented with different distances to find what works best for the league. The introduction of the 3-point line was influenced by its earlier adoption in the American Basketball Association (ABA), which had implemented the 3-point line in its inaugural season in 1967.
