Updated Feb. 16, 2026, 7:15 p.m. ET
Damian Lillard might have just sparked anticipation for possibly the greatest NBA 3-Point Contest of all-time.
After Lillard won his third State Farm NBA 3-Point Contest in a stunning, edge-of-the-seat fashion during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, he caught the attention of another great NBA shooter, arguably the greatest of all-time, who seemingly wants in on next year’s competition.
Stephen Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader in three-point shots made, confirmed in an Instagram direct message to Lillard that he would compete in the 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend’s 3-Point Contest in Phoenix, Arizona.
Lillard reached out to Curry first to assemble the troops.
He lobbied for himself, Curry, Klay Thompson and Devin Booker to be frontrunners in next year’s competition, adding they would need to find four more participants.
“Next year … me, you, Klay, Book, and 4 more real shooters,” Lillard said.
Curry responded with excitement and interest in the ultimate competition between the league’s best shooters.
“Yessir I’m in. Know Klay will do it if I ask and Book will be at home. Perfect setup,” Curry wrote, according to Lillard’s Instagram story.
Lillard posted the interaction to his social channel, seemingly confirming the arrangement.
“It’s lit,” Lillard captioned his Instagram story.
USA TODAY Sports experts chime in
The 2027 NBA 3-Point Contest could prove to be the ultimate shootout if Lillard, Curry, Thompson and Booker follow through next year.
Lillard competed and won in 2026, despite having not suited up all season, coming off of a torn Achilles. Curry sat out the 2026 All-Star game with a right knee injury. Fingers crossed that injuries don’t prevent the greatest shooting showcase of all-time.
USA TODAY Sports experts provided their two cents on who they’d like to see compete in the 2027 NBA 3-Point Contest with Curry, Lillard, Booker and Thompson, selecting four players to round out the eight-man competition.
Mark Giannotto
Lorenzo Reyes
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
- Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
“There are definitely better shooters in terms of efficiency, but I would love to see how a high-volume shooter like Doncic can do in a competition like this. Mitchell, I think, is still right up there with the top tier shooters, and any time you can pair Edwards and Durant in any type of competition, it seems to bring out the best in each.”
However just to “get spicy” Reyes said he’d like to consider Kon Knueppel, he’d bring some of the greats out of retirement in Ray Allen and Reggie Miller and add WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark to the mix.
Jon Hoefling
- Kon Knueppel,Charlotte Hornets
- Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
- Buddy Hield, Atlanta Hawks
- Seth Curry, Golden State Warriors
“Not only are these some of the best shooters in the game, but each of them (except Durant) has proven themselves serious competitors in the three-point contest. Hield tied the record for highest-scoring round with 31 points in 2025, and even won the event in 2020.
Knueppel was phenomenal in his first performance this year, but it’s clear the pressure got to him when the finals rolled around. Perhaps another shot at the crown would provide fans with the best version of Knueppel.
The final two spots are for the storylines.
Fans can probably imagine how many times Stephen Curry and his brother Seth took turns playing HORSE or shooting threes as kids. Getting to see them compete in such a competition all grown up would be fun, and Seth Curry is still one of the game’s top three-point shooters.
Durant, meanwhile, has never done particularly well at the three-point competition, but the opportunity to see Durant, Thompson, and Curry on the same floor is something fans probably will never get to see again. One last look at the Warriors’ dynasty would be a great nostalgic look for fans.”
Andres Soto
- Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kon Knueppel,Charlotte Hornets
- Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
“If we want to talk about star power, this is it right here. You’d have some of the best shooters of all time in KD, Curry, Lillard, Booker and Thompson going up against the new wave: Ant, Knueppel, and Wemby. It just doesn’t get much bigger than that. We already saw how contagious Wembanyama’s energy was in the All-Star Game this year, so I’d be really interested to see how that would carry over to something like the three-point contest.”
Marcus D. Smith
- Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
- Trae Young, Washington Wizards
- Luke Kennard, Los Angeles Lakers
- Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns
“In terms of star power, this list may not look as attractive compared to my colleagues but I want to see how some of the best under-the-radar shooters fare against the best shooters from this era. With Reaves, he’s made strides to improve his game every season since he signed with the Lakers. In his five-year career, he’s shot nearly 37% from deep. Young was once considered to be the ‘next Curry’ with his shooting ability, and it would entertaining to see if he can dethrone Curry in what could be his last contest in 2027.
Reaves’ newest teammate Kennard has been one of league’s best shooters, but since his volume isn’t quite as much as others’ he gets overlooked, but Kennard can light it up with the best of them. He leads the NBA in three-point percentage in 2025-26 at 49.4%. Gillespie has spent two seasons with the Suns and probably countless of practices shooting with his teammate Booker, so let’s have them go head-to-head on the biggest stage, in front of everyone in the league.”
Previous 3-Point contest winners
Lillard defeated Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the championship round of the 2026 State Farm NBA 3-Point Contest on Feb. 14. He became the third player ever to win the contest three times, joining Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.
Lillard scored 29 in the final round. Booker had the chance to win with 27 points and three shots remaining on his money ball rack, but he missed the final shots of his last rack, where each shot would have counted as two points instead of one.
The other competitors during the 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest were Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Miami Heat guard Norman Powell, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. and Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey.
Booker was crowned the 2018 NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest winner. Curry previously won the competition in 2015 and 2021. Thompson won the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2016 in Toronto, defeating then-teammate Curry with a final round score of 27.
Here’s a list of previous NBA 3-Point Contest winners dating back to the first event in 1986:
- Damian Lillard, 2026
- Tyler Herro, 2025
- Damian Lillard, 2024
- Damian Lillard,2023
- Karl-Anthony Towns, 2022
- Stephen Curry, 2021
- Buddy Hield, 2020
- Joe Harris,2019
- Devin Booker, 2018
- Eric Gordon, 2017
- Klay Thompson, 2016
- Stephen Curry, 2015
- Marco Belinelli, 2014
- Kyrie Irving, 2013
- Kevin Love,2012
- James Jones, 2011
- Paul Pierce, 2010
- Daequan Cook, 2009
- Jason Kapono, 2008
- Jason Kapono, 2007
- Dirk Nowitzki, 2006
- Quentin Richardson, 2005
- Voshon Leonard, 2004
- Peja Stojakovic, 2003
- Peja Stojakovic, 2002
- Ray Allen, 2001
- Jeff Hornacek, 2000
- Jeff Hornacek, 1998
- Steve Kerr, 1997
- Tim Legler, 1996
- Glen Rice, 1995
- Mark Price,1994
- Mark Price, 1993
- Craig Hodges,1992
- Craig Hodges, 1991
- Craig Hodges, 1990
- Dale Ellis, 1989
- Larry Bird, 1988
- Larry Bird,1987
- Larry Bird, 1986