The NBA announced its field for the 2026 3-point contest, and the inclusion of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is raising eyebrows.
Despite missing time this season due to injury, Book was named to his fifth career All-Star team as a reserve. His inclusion gives the Suns — a team shattering expectations this season — a representative on the big stage separate from team owner and former college walk-on Mat Ishbia suiting up for the celebrity game.
But even as a past 3-point contest winner — Book took home the accolade in 2018 — Booker’s inclusion to this year’s field is interesting given how the combo guard has struggled from 3-point range this season.
We’ve documented it before, but Booker’s career-worst 30.7% shooting from beyond the arc in 2025-26 stands out as the only real wart on his resume.
It also puts him in uncharted territory as far as the 3-point contest is concerned.
History of 3-point contest winners shows Book as clear 2026 underdog
Throughout the history of the contest that honors the league’s best outside shooters dating back to 1986, the worst 3-point percentage from an eventual winner of the 3-point contest was Damian Lillard’s 34.1% pre-All-Star clip in 2024. Dame nonetheless defended his title by winning a second consecutive 3-point shootout, and his percentage in the second half of the season improved significantly (he shot 38.3% from downtown after winning the contest).
Lillard, who’s recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, is expected to compete in this year’s contest despite not having played a single minute this season.
Outside of that, 35 of the 39 winners of the 3-point contest entered the event shooting at least 38% from distance. Among those who entered the contest with a lower percentage who went on to win? Former Phoenix Suns sharpshooter Quentin Richardson, who shot 36.1% from deep prior to All-Star Weekend in 2005. Q still holds the record for the most 3-point makes in a season in Suns history.
So, if history is any indication, the odds are not in Book’s favor. His 30.7% shooting from 3-point territory would be, by far, the worst mark by a 3-point contest winner if he can pull off the upset. Here’s a look at the field, ranked by their 3-point percentage at the time of writing:
2026 3-point contest contestants
- Bobby Portis: 45.1%
- Jamal Murray: 43.2%
- Kon Knueppel: 42.8%
- Norman Powell: 39.6%
- Tyrese Maxey: 38.2%
- Donovan Mitchell: 37.9%
- Booker: 30.7%
- Lillard: N/A
So, while history is not on Booker’s side, he is still a former winner of the contest. Perhaps he can use his inclusion this year to springboard into more efficient outside shooting the rest of the way, regardless of the result.
However, even that is no guarantee. There are plenty of instances in years past of a 3-point contest winner entering the All-Star break with a great shooting percentage from deep, only to see that mark take a significant dip in the second half of the season.
Jason Kapono, the former Miami Heat sharpshooter who won the contest in 2007 and 2008, is perhaps the most stark example. He entered the 2007 contest shooting 56% from deep and saw that percentage plummet to 37.3% in the season’s second half. In 2008, he shot 51% from downtown pre-All-Star break and 35% from deep after winning the 3-point shootout again.
Similar number trends happened to past winners Voshon Lenard, Kyrie Irving and Mark Price as well.
Lillard improved his shooting in 2024 after winning the contest, but the true standout is legendary 3-point sniper Steph Curry. The Golden State Warriors’ marksman was shooting 39.9% from long range ahead of the 2015 All-Star break, then upped that to a video game-esque 51.7% in the second half after his contest win.
Nobody should expect Booker to start making more than half of his 3-point tries after he competes, but a second-half reset that sees a 3-point figure well above 30.7% would be a welcome sign as the Suns continue the stretch run toward playoffs.
Even if Booker doesn’t win this year’s contest, bucking trends and beating the odds, Suns fans can hope the competition rewires his 3-point efficiency post-All-Star break.