The NBA All-Star Weekend has become synonymous with entertainment and amusement over the years, with the 3-Point Contest emerging as one of its most intriguing offerings. This season is no different. Several stars such as Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Brunson, Lauri Markkanen and Malik Beasley have been roped in for the event. However, one name shines brighter than the others, and that is Damian Lillard.

As the defending champion, Dame goes into the 3-Point Contest as the favorite. However, Lillard has found it tough from downtown this season, recording only 34.1% from beyond the arc. But despite his subpar showings from the 3-Point range, Jeff Teague, former title winner with the Bucks, has confidently predicted that Dame will successfully defend his title in the 3-Point Contest.

In the latest episode of the Club 520 podcast, Teague claimed that Lillard is the clear favorite to retain his 3-Point Contest title. He said, “I’m taking Dame Dolla. It don’t even matter. Ain’t gotta look it up. I got Dolla.” 

Is Dame really the favorite?

While Lillard certainly has the pedigree to be considered as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, his recent performances from the 3-point range have been average at best. Dame’s current 3-point shooting percentage of 34.1% falls below the league average of 36.7%.

While Dame is enduring a significant slump, his rivals in the 3-Point Contest are experiencing their best-ever performances from beyond the arc. Amongst the contestants, Malik Beasley has been the most efficient from range, with a 3-point percentage of 44.4%. The second most efficient from downtown is Timberwolves’ star, Karl Anthony Towns, who has recorded a 3PT% of 43.7%. Third most efficient player amongst the contestants is Jalen Brunson. Brunson is currently averaging 41.1% from beyond the arc.

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Although the 3-point percentage shows the players most efficient from downtown, it doesn’t factor in the level of difficulty of their shots. Over the years, Lillard has drawn intense scrutiny from opposition defenders because of his propensity to score buckets from any position. As a result, Damian Lillard faces more challenging shot attempts, leading to his lower 3-point shooting percentage.

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This season, Dame has drained 148 shots from deep, which is the fourth most amongst the contestants. Leading in this category is  , with 167 3-pointers made. In a close second is Dame’s teammate, Malik Beasley, who has sunk 156 shots from beyond the arc. What are your thoughts? Could Dame retain his title? Let us know in the comments below!

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