NBA 3-Point Contest records: Highest scores, most wins, perfect rounds and more in All-Star history

NBA 3-Point Contest records: Highest scores, most wins, perfect rounds and more in All-Star history originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Slam Dunk Contest once reigned supreme and may still headline NBA All-Star Saturday night, but for some time, the 3-Point Contest has been the most entertaining event.

While the Dunk Contest struggles to get star talent and forces dunkers to get exceedingly more creative, the 3-Point Contest consistently gets the league’s top shooters and always delivers exactly what fans expect.

The level of competition rises as the league’s most prolific marksmen get hot and attempt to outdo one another. The format has changed a little over the years, but the excitement has not waned at all. 

With great shooters in an era defined by 3-point shooting, the contest has provided some remarkable shooting performances. Here are some of the most impressive showings in the history of the NBA’s 3-Point Contest.

MORE: Rules, scoring, format for NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest

NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest records

Since its inception in 1986, the 3-Point Contest has seen a few changes.

In 2014, the league introduced a rack compromised completely of “Money Balls” worth two points, increasing the maximum total score of a round from 30 to 34.

For the 2020 event, the league introduced two additional shots from a longer distance worth three points each. The timed rounds increased from 60 to 70 seconds long and the maximum total score once again increased to 40.

Here are the best rounds in the history of the 3-Point Contest, including the total possible points to identify the era in which the record was set.

Most points in a round

Most points in the final round

Most shots made in one round

Most consecutive shots made

MORE: Revisiting the history of the NBA 3-Point Contest

Most 3-Point Contest wins

Eight players have won the 3-Point Contest more than once, with Larry Bird, Craig Hodges and Damian Lillard leading the way with three titles apiece. Both Bird and Hodges won in three consecutive years.

Lillard joined them in 2026, his third win in the event after also winning in 2023 and 2024.

Jeff Hornacek’s repeat titles came in 1998 and 2000 because there was no All-Star Game in 1999 due to the league lockout.

Most 3-Point Contest wins

MORE: How much does the NBA’s 3-Point Contest winner make?