Devin Booker Is Back in the 3-Point Contest - But History Says He’s a Long Shot
The NBA has revealed the field for the 2026 3-Point Contest, and one name in particular is turning heads: Devin Booker. The Phoenix Suns guard is no stranger to this event - he won the whole thing back in 2018 - but his return this year comes under very different circumstances.
Booker, despite missing time this season with injury, was just named to his fifth career All-Star team as a reserve. That’s a nod to his overall impact and reputation in the league, and it gives the Suns some representation on All-Star Weekend beyond team owner Mat Ishbia’s appearance in the celebrity game.
But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Booker’s 3-point shooting this season has been, well, rough. He’s hitting just 30.7% from deep - the lowest mark of his career.
That’s not just a dip; it’s a crater, especially for a player known for his smooth shooting stroke and clutch scoring. And when you stack that number up against the history of the 3-Point Contest, it becomes even more glaring.
The Numbers Don’t Lie - Book’s Up Against It
Since the contest’s debut in 1986, 35 of the 39 winners came into All-Star Weekend shooting at least 38% from beyond the arc. The lowest pre-contest percentage by a winner?
That would be Damian Lillard, who came in at 34.1% in 2024 - and still managed to defend his title. Lillard’s second-half surge (he shot 38.3% after the break) helped validate his win.
Booker’s 30.7%? That would be unprecedented. No one has ever won the 3-Point Contest shooting that poorly from deep heading into the event.
For context, here’s how the rest of the 2026 field stacks up in terms of 3-point percentage at the time of the announcement:
- Bobby Portis - 45.1%
- Jamal Murray - 43.2%
- Kon Knueppel - 42.8%
- Norman Powell - 39.6%
- Tyrese Maxey - 38.2%
- Donovan Mitchell - 37.9%
- Devin Booker - 30.7%
- Damian Lillard - N/A (hasn’t played this season due to Achilles surgery)
So yes, Booker’s inclusion is a bit of a head-scratcher from a numbers standpoint. But this is the 3-Point Contest - a fast-paced, rhythm-based showcase that doesn’t always follow regular season logic. Booker’s a past winner, and sometimes, muscle memory and muscle confidence are all you need.
Can the Contest Spark a Turnaround?
There’s another angle here worth watching: could this contest be the jolt Booker needs to get his 3-point stroke back on track for the second half of the season?
It’s happened before. Lillard, after winning in 2024, saw his shooting improve significantly post-break.
And then there’s Steph Curry, who in 2015 went from shooting 39.9% before All-Star Weekend to a blistering 51.7% afterward. That’s the dream scenario.
But it can go the other way, too. Jason Kapono - who won back-to-back 3-Point Contests in 2007 and 2008 - saw his shooting fall off a cliff in both seasons after the break.
In 2007, he went from 56% before the contest to 37.3% after. The next year?
A drop from 51% to 35%. Other past winners like Voshon Lenard, Kyrie Irving, and Mark Price also saw post-contest slumps.
So if you’re a Suns fan hoping the contest will magically fix Booker’s jumper, there’s precedent - both for and against. But even if he doesn’t walk away with the trophy, the hope is that the event helps him recalibrate. A second-half surge that lifts his 3-point percentage back into the mid-to-high 30s would be a big boost for Phoenix as they gear up for the playoff push.
Bet Against Him at Your Own Risk
Booker may be the statistical underdog, but he’s also a competitor with a history of rising to the occasion. And let’s not forget, he’s already got one 3-Point Contest title under his belt. That counts for something - especially in a format that rewards rhythm, confidence, and the ability to get hot in a hurry.
So while the odds and the numbers might not be in his favor, Booker’s presence in the contest still matters. It’s a chance to reset, to remind people what he’s capable of, and maybe - just maybe - to flip the script on a season that’s seen him struggle from deep.
Because if there’s one thing we know about Devin Booker, it’s this: when the lights are brightest, he’s never afraid to shoot his shot.