2024 NBA 3-Point Contest Odds, Rules, and Betting Tips
NBA All-Star Weekend is upon us! Follow along as betting expert, Nick Galaida, breaks down 2024 3-Point Contest odds, rules, and betting tips ahead of All-Star Saturday night in Indianapolis.
2024 NBA 3-Point Contest Odds
- Damian Lillard +390
- Tyrese Haliburton +450
- Trae Young +550
- Malik Beasley +650
- Karl-Anthony Towns +700
- Donovan Mitchell +750
- Jalen Brunson +750
- Lauri Markkanen +800
Following the Kia Skills Challenge at 8:00 p.m. ET, NBA All-Star Saturday will continue with the always highly-anticipated Starry 3-Point Contest. The 8-player field will be headlined by Damian Lillard, who is the defending champion of the event.
3-Point Contest Format & Rules
Similar to past seasons, ball racks will be located at five main shooting locations around the 3-point arc, testing a player’s shooting ability from all areas of the floor. At four of the five racks, there will be four official NBA game balls, with one multi-colored “money” ball for players to shoot. Each shot made with an NBA official game ball is worth 1 point, with “money ball” made shots being worth 2 points. The fifth rack will feature exclusively “money” balls, and each shooter is able to select where they would like the “money” rack to be positioned on the floor – choosing from any of the five ball rack locations.
In addition to the five racks, there will be two balls located at “STARRY Range” spots on the floor. One of those shots will be between racks two and three, and the other spot will be between racks three and four. Shots made with the white “STARRY” ball are worth 3 points.
Players may not start their shot attempt from on or in front of the 3-point line from the five racks. When shooting from the “STARRY” range, players must have at least one foot on the designated floor decal for the shot attempt to be considered legal. Any shot attempt that occurs out of sequence will become void.
Time Limit
Each player will have 70 seconds to shoot as many of the 27 balls as possible. There is no reward for finishing all 27 shots quicker than another player.
Competition Rules
The order in which players compete in the opening round will be determined by random drawing, with the exception being Damian Lillard, who gets to compete last as a reward for winning the event last year. From the initial eight players, the three players with the highest score in the opening round will advance to the championship round.
The order in which players compete in the championship round will be determined by the inverse of the opening round scores. For example, the player with the lowest score from the first round will compete first in the championship round.
Tiebreakers (If Necessary)
If there is a tie to determine the championship round participants, a 30-second tie-breaker round will occur between the impacted players. If necessary, the players will compete in an additional 30-second tiebreaker round until the tie is broken, with the winner of the tiebreaker round advancing to the championship round.
In the event that a tie occurs in the championship round, a full 70-second tiebreaker round will be used to determine the sole champion. If necessary, the players will compete in additional tiebreaker rounds until there is an individual winner.
NBA 3-Point Contest Betting Tips
If choosing to wager on the 3-point contest, it is important to pick players who will be able to sustain their energy for multiple rounds of shooting. Similar to the Home Run Derby in the MLB, the 3-point contest is a competition of endurance as much as it is a skill. Players who have success in this event are typically able to get off shots at a rapid, consistent pace without the need to elevate their bodies very far off of the floor. Looking at recent past winners such as Damian Lillard, Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield, Joe Harris, Devin Booker, and more – it is evident that guards with quick releases have a distinct advantage in this competition.
On Saturday, I will be publishing my full analysis for the event, including shooting percentages from certain areas of the floor – another key metric to evaluate before deciding a player to bet on.
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