NBA 3 Point Contest 2026 Highlights, Odds and Predictions for Participants

The field for the 2026 NBA three-point contest looks fascinating.

Even if it's without history's greatest perimeter splasher (Stephen Curry) or the event's reigning champion (Tyler Herro).

What it does have, though, is a surprise appearance from a two-time winner (Damian Lillard, whose not suiting up this season while recovering from a torn Achilles) and quite possibly the best rookie marksman this league has ever seen (Kon Knueppel). And a lot of great sharpshooters who will almost guarantee this event will be an absolute thrill ride.

Participants, Odds

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Kon Knueppel, CHO: +368

Damian Lillard, POR: +425

Jamal Murray, DEN: +574

Tyrese Maxey, PHI: +600

Donovan Mitchell, CLE: +624

Devin Booker, PHO: +750

Norman Powell, MIA: +800

Bobby Portis, MIL: +1348

*Consensus odds via Action Network.

The Credentials

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As you might expect, the numbers attached to this field are pretty absurd.

Mitchell, Knueppel, Maxey and Murray are all averaging better than three triples per outing. Powell has his connection clip north of 39 percent for the eighth consecutive campaign. Portis is shooting a preposterous 45 percent from range—and that's not even a personal-best. Even Booker, who's frankly not having a good season from distance, has nine outings with at least three triples.

This field is loaded, and yet it's fair to wonder whether a first-year player might lead it. Because Knueppel isn't just a great shooter for a rookie; he's an elite three-point marksman period. As automatic as Curry is, he's only had four seasons in which he's topped Knueppel's combination of volume (3.4 threes) and efficiency (43.1).

Let's also use this opportunity to spotlight Maxey a bit. Three-point shooting was a bit of a question mark when he entered the Association and wasn't at all a strength in his rookie season (31 threes in 61 games, 30.1 percent). And yet, he's basically been splashing ever since (174 triples with a 37.9 percent splash rate this season).

This is truly a loaded field.

Prediction

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There's a chance history is made Saturday night. If Lillard can splash his way to victory, he'd join Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the event's only three-time winners in history.

Lillard is, obviously, a good enough shooter to make that happen. He just isn't the player our crystal ball likes.

Because Knueppel might have a tier all to himself atop this group. Averaging 3.4 threes is wild. Connecting on 43.1 percent of your threes is wilder. Doing both at the same time is wildest. And doing all of the above as a 20-year-old rookie is truly mind-numbing stuff.

While you never quite know how the event setup and spotlight will impact players, Knueppel just feels ready for this stage. Oddsmakers were wise to make him the favorite, because we see a trophy in his future.