Trey Murphy III Left Off Three-Point Contest Roster Despite Red-Hot Stretch
The NBA’s three-point contest lineup is set, but one name is notably - and surprisingly - missing: Trey Murphy III. The New Orleans Pelicans wing has been lighting it up from deep, especially in recent weeks, yet he won’t be part of All-Star Saturday’s premier shooting showcase.
And no, this wasn’t a case of a declined invitation. Murphy simply wasn’t invited.
“I would have participated if I was invited,” Murphy said after the Pelicans’ win over the Kings on Monday night. That’s not frustration talking - just facts. The 23-year-old has been on a tear, leading the league in made threes so far in February, and doing it with the kind of consistency and confidence you want to see in a three-point contest participant.
When asked if he felt snubbed, Murphy paused, smiled, and said, “I’ll let y’all be the judge of that.”
So let’s be the judge.
Who Made the Cut?
Here’s the full list of shooters who did get the nod:
- Devin Booker (Suns)
- Kon Knueppel (Hornets)
- Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
- Tyrese Maxey (76ers)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
- Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
- Bobby Portis (Bucks)
- Norman Powell (Heat)
There are some heavy hitters in that group - no doubt. But when you stack the numbers side by side, Murphy’s omission becomes harder to justify.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s start with total three-point makes this season (as of the contest announcement):
- Donovan Mitchell - 180
- Kon Knueppel - 174
- Tyrese Maxey - 169
- Trey Murphy III - 161
- Jamal Murray - 156
- Norman Powell - 125
- Bobby Portis - 92
- Devin Booker - 71
- Damian Lillard - 0
Yes, you read that right. Lillard hasn’t played a game this season, and Booker has fewer than half the threes Murphy has knocked down. That’s not a slight - it’s just the math.
Now let’s look at efficiency - three-point percentage:
- Bobby Portis - 45.1%
- Jamal Murray - 43.2%
- Kon Knueppel - 42.8%
- Norman Powell - 39.3%
- Tyrese Maxey - 38.2%
- Donovan Mitchell - 37.9%
- Trey Murphy III - 37.8%
- Devin Booker - 30.7%
- Damian Lillard - 0%
Again, Murphy’s right in the mix - seventh in percentage, fourth in makes. That’s a strong case for inclusion, especially when you consider his recent form.
Since the calendar flipped to 2026, Murphy leads the league in threes made and ranks fifth in percentage. In other words, he’s peaking at the perfect time.
The Head-Scratchers
Let’s talk about the two most puzzling inclusions: Damian Lillard and Devin Booker.
Lillard is a two-time champion of the event and one of the most respected shooters in the game, but he hasn’t played a single minute this season. His inclusion is clearly about star power and narrative - and while that’s understandable from a marketing standpoint, it does take a spot away from someone who’s earned it on the court this year.
Then there’s Booker. A past winner himself (2018), but this season he’s shooting just 30.7% from three and has only 71 makes - the lowest of any active player in the field. That’s tough to defend when players like Murphy, Collin Gillespie (160 makes, 42.6%), and Tim Hardaway Jr. (151 makes, 40.4%) are waiting in the wings.
Context Matters
Some of the other selections make more sense when you dig a little deeper.
- Bobby Portis doesn’t have the volume, but he’s shooting a blistering 45.1% from deep and brings a unique big-man flair to the contest.
- Norman Powell may trail Murphy in makes, but he’s part of a high-octane Miami offense and shooting nearly 40%.
- Jamal Murray, Maxey, Mitchell, and Knueppel all combine volume with efficiency - no arguments there.
But when you put Murphy’s numbers next to Booker and Lillard, the omission doesn’t just feel questionable - it feels like a miss.
The Bottom Line
Trey Murphy III should be in this year’s three-point contest. He’s earned it with his production, his efficiency, and his recent hot streak. He’s not just a volume shooter - he’s a rhythm shooter, the kind of player who thrives in the quick-release, no-defense format of the event.
If the contest is meant to showcase the league’s best shooters right now, Murphy checks every box. Instead, we’re left wondering what could’ve been.
What Could’ve Been: A More Merit-Based Field
If the NBA had gone strictly by numbers and momentum, here’s a lineup that might have made more sense:
- Kon Knueppel
- Donovan Mitchell
- Tyrese Maxey
- Jamal Murray
- Trey Murphy III
- **Tim Hardaway Jr.
**
- Collin Gillespie
- Naz Reid
That group blends volume, efficiency, and recent form - and it would’ve made for a compelling, competitive contest.
Murphy may not be in the field this year, but if he keeps shooting like this, it’s only a matter of time before he gets his shot. For now, though, it’s fair to call it what it is: a snub.