NBA All-Star Saturday Night is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 17 while airing on TNT. The Skills Challenge is the first event on the docket, followed by the 3-Point Contest, and then the Dunk Contest. You can check out our 2023 Slam Dunk Contest Predictions at that link (one dunker jumps out), but this article will highlight our top NBA All Star 3-Point Contest Predictions for what should be an entertaining event.
NBA All Star 3-Point Contest Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Damian Lillard | +425 |
| Buddy Hield | +425 |
| Jayson Tatum | +500 |
| Kevin Huerter | +550 |
| Tyler Herro | +550 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | +600 |
| Lauri Markkanen | +650 |
| Julius Randle | +700 |
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Feb. 17. New to DraftKings? Check out our DraftKings Sportsbook Review to redeem our exclusive offer to Bet $5 to win $150.
3-Point Contest Predictions
There’s a reason Damian Lillard is the top option, and he will probably be the most popular bet at domestic sportsbooks. Buddy Hield is the co-favorite, and he actually won the 3-Point Contest in 2020. From there, it’s hard to speculate on the rest of the pack. Here are my notes on those participants:
- It feels like Jayson Tatum’s odds are too high due to the name recognition.
- Kevin Huerter is a 3-point specialist who could make some noise. Keep an eye on him as a middle-of-the-field sleeper.
- It doesn’t feel like Tyrese Haliburton has the “it” factor like the names mentioned before him in this paragraph.
- A big man won it last year (Karl-Anthony Towns), so don’t rule out guys like Lauri Markkanen or Julius Randle — although they are bottom of the odds board for a reason.
With that, let’s dive into the firm NBA All Star 3-Point Contest Predictions below.
Buddy Hield To Win 3-Point Contest (+425)
To be honest, I feel like there’s value on Hield with +425 odds or greater. He should probably be the sole favorite of this event, as he has a smooth stroke and a history of winning this competition. I’m not sure if familiarity in this situation goes far, but it certainly can’t hurt.
Am I worried about Damian Lillard going bonkers and breezing to the finals? Sure, but Hield still has to be one of the safest options in this event — at least “safe” in the context of a volatile contest like this one.
If you are doing a pizza bet with your friends, there’s a chance they are sleeping on Hield even though his the top pick for this event. From a traditional sportsbook point of view, I’ll sprinkle some cheddar on Hield and one other longshot pick listed below.
Where to bet: Buddy Hield to win 3-Point Contest | +425 at DraftKings Sportsbook
Lauri Markkanen To Win 3-Point Contest (+650)
Are there better pure shooters than Markkanen in this competition? Yes. However, there’s an angle with the Utah forward that many seem to be overlooking: he’ll be shooting on his home court. His the Jazz representative in this competition, and the crowd will likely be behind him. Sure, that’s a very marginal boost in the grand scheme of things, but it’s an angle nonetheless.
Markkanen has the second-longest odds of this event (+650), and I believe it’s worth taking a shot at that price if you are looking to wager on the 3-Point contest. Once again, this event is difficult to predict, but there’s a chance Markkanen will enjoy some home cookin’ while shooting on familiar rims.
Where to bet: Lauri Markkenen to win 3-Point Contest | +650 at DraftKings Sportsbook
