NBA 3-Point Contest records: Highest scores, most wins, perfect rounds and more in All-Star history

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The Slam Dunk Contest once reigned supreme and may still headline NBA All-Star Saturday night, but for some time, the 3-Point Contest has been the most entertaining event.

While the Dunk Contest struggles to get star talent and forces dunkers to get exceedingly more creative, the 3-Point Contest consistently gets the league's top shooters and always delivers exactly what fans expect.

The level of competition rises as the league's most prolific marksmen get hot and attempt to outdo one another. The format has changed a little over the years, but the excitement has not waned at all. 

With great shooters in an era defined by 3-point shooting, the contest has provided some remarkable shooting performances. Here are some of the most impressive showings in the history of the NBA's 3-Point Contest.

MORE: Rules, scoring, format for NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest

NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest records

Since its inception in 1986, the 3-Point Contest has seen a few changes.

In 2014, the league introduced a rack compromised completely of "Money Balls" worth two points, increasing the maximum total score of a round from 30 to 34.

For the 2020 event, the league introduced two additional shots from a longer distance worth three points each. The timed rounds increased from 60 to 70 seconds long and the maximum total score once again increased to 40.

Here are the best rounds in the history of the 3-Point Contest, including the total possible points to identify the era in which the record was set.

Most points in a round

RankPlayerScoreOut ofYear
1.Stephen Curry31402021
 Tyrese Haliburton31402023
 Buddy Hield31402025
4.Devin Booker30402026
5.Karl-Anthony Towns29402022
 Damian Lillard29402026
7.Devin Booker28342018
 Luke Kennard28402022
9.Stephen Curry27342015
 Stephen Curry27342019
 Klay Thompson27342016
 Devin Booker27402020
 Buddy Hield27402020
 Mike Conley27402021
 Kon Knueppel27402026
 Damian Lillard27402026
 Devin Booker27402026

Most points in the final round

RankPlayerScoreOut ofYear
1.Karl-Anthony Towns29402022
 Damian Lillard29402026
3.Devin Booker28342018
 Stephen Curry28402021
5.Klay Thompson27342016
 Stephen Curry27342015
 Buddy Hield27402020
 Mike Conley27402021
 Devin Booker27402026
10.Joe Harris26342019
 Devin Booker26402020
 Damian Lillard26402023
 Luke Kennard26402022
 Trae Young26402022

Most shots made in one round

RankPlayerShotsYear
1.Craig Hodges21/251991
 Craig Hodges21/251998
 Devin Booker21/272026
 Damian Lillard21/272026
5.Devin Booker20/252018
 Stephen Curry20/252021
 Stephen Curry20/252015
 Kyrie Irving20/252013
 Jason Kapono20/252008
 Mark Price20/251994
 Mike Conley20/252021
 Karl-Anthony Towns20/252022
 Tyrese Haliburton20/252023
 Damian Lillard20/272026
 Devin Booker20/272026

Most consecutive shots made

RankPlayerShotsSeason
1.Craig Hodges191991
2.Stephen Curry132015
3.Joe Harris122019
4.Larry Bird111986
 Hubert Davis111996
 Stephen Curry112016
7.Jason Kapono102008
 Ray Allen102011
 Kyrie Irving102013
 Stephen Curry102019
 Damian Lillard102026

MORE: Revisiting the history of the NBA 3-Point Contest

Most 3-Point Contest wins

Eight players have won the 3-Point Contest more than once, with Larry Bird, Craig Hodges and Damian Lillard leading the way with three titles apiece. Both Bird and Hodges won in three consecutive years.

Lillard joined them in 2026, his third win in the event after also winning in 2023 and 2024.

Jeff Hornacek's repeat titles came in 1998 and 2000 because there was no All-Star Game in 1999 due to the league lockout.

Most 3-Point Contest wins

RankPlayerWinsYears
1.Craig Hodges31990, 1991, 1992
 Larry Bird31986, 1987, 1988
 Damian Lillard32023, 2024, 2026
4.Stephen Curry22015, 2021
 Jason Kapono22007, 2008
 Peja Stojakovic22002, 2003
 Jeff Hornacek21998, 2000
 Mark Price21993, 1994

MORE: How much does the NBA's 3-Point Contest winner make?

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