The Milwaukee Bucks starting backcourt of Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley will be participating in the three-point contest as part of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend. Lillard, who won the event last season, is the favorite to win while Beasley is tied for the second-best odds with Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Halliburton. Should either Lillard or Beasley emerge victorious in the three-point contest, they will be just the second Bucks player ever to win it. Ray Allen won the event back in 2001.
The three-point contest will be sponsored by the soft drink Starry. It just so happens that the celebrity face of Starry is Lillard’s and Beasley’s superstar teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo. In a recent interview with Nick DePaula of BoardroomTV, the two-time NBA MVP would not rule out participating in the three-point contest himself someday.
Of course, he will need to improve his own three-point shooting first, something that the Greek Freak thinks he could do if he worked hard enough.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Won’t Rule Out Someday Competing in the Three-Point Contest
When asked about the possibility of participating in the three-point contest himself one day, Giannis said:
“Never say never. “Because I really believe in my hard work. I believe I work my butt off. You never know man.
“Maybe when I’m old and I can’t move the same, and I can’t go through people and get into the paint — maybe I start shooting more 3s. Maybe I start shooting more 3s and my percentage goes up. It’s kind of hard to shoot a lot of 3s, when you can get into the paint and shoot 75% in the paint. Your mind doesn’t let you. But maybe in the future, I’ll do it, when I’m 36, 37 or 38.”
Giannis is currently 29 years old, so he is giving himself at least seven more years before he gets to that point. He will certainly need to improve his three point shot a great deal. Currently, the eight-time All-Star is shooting 25.5% from three and has a career mark of 28.5%.
Milwaukee Bucks Players Who Have Participated in the Three-Point Contest
- 1985-86: Craig Hodges
- 1986-87: Craig Hodges
- 1987-88: Craig Hodgers
- 1999-00: Ray Allen
- 2000-01: Ray Allen
- 2001-02: Ray Allen
- 2015-16: Khris Middleton
- 2018-19: Khris Middleton
- 2023-24: Malik Beasley
- 2023-24: Damian Lillard
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