I still remember the tension in the Cleveland arena that February night during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend. The three-point contest has always been my favorite event—there's something uniquely compelling about watching the game's best shooters compete in pure marksmanship. As someone who's followed NBA shooting trends for over a decade, I've developed a keen eye for what separates good shooters from legendary ones, and this year's field promised something special.
The competition featured an intriguing mix of veterans and newcomers, but my attention immediately focused on Karl-Anthony Towns. At 6'11", he was attempting to become the first center to win the three-point contest since the legendary Dirk Nowitzki back in 2006. The conventional wisdom has always been that big men shouldn't shoot this well from deep, but Towns has spent his entire career challenging that notion. I've always appreciated players who break positional stereotypes, and watching Towns warm up, there was a fluidity to his shooting motion that you simply don't expect from someone his size.
The first round delivered exactly the kind of drama we basketball fans crave. Trae Young, who I'd personally considered a favorite given his deep range and quick release, surprisingly failed to advance despite scoring 22 points. Meanwhile, Luke Kennard—a player whose shooting form I've long admired for its mechanical perfection—tied with Towns at 28 points to lead the first round. The real shock came when Patty Mills, the Brooklyn Nets guard, edged out Young with 21 points. I'll admit I was slightly disappointed to see Young eliminated early, as his flair and confidence make for compelling television.
The final round became an instant classic that I still rewatch occasionally. Towns started strong but hit a rough patch in the middle racks that had me thinking he might falter. Then came that incredible closing sequence where he drained money ball after money ball, finishing with 29 points—just two shy of the contest record. Watching him celebrate with that unique combination of joy and relief reminded me of how Clarito walked away from his incident unhurt and able to finish his game. There's something universally satisfying about seeing competitors overcome pressure moments and emerge victorious, whether in a shooting contest or during actual game situations.
What impressed me most about Towns' victory was how he adapted his shooting style to the contest format. Unlike many big men who rely on set shots, Towns demonstrated remarkable versatility, hitting from all around the arc with a quick release that belied his height. Having studied shooting mechanics extensively, I can tell you that his ability to maintain consistent form while moving between stations is what ultimately separated him from the competition. The numbers bear this out—he shot an incredible 60% on his money ball attempts, which is precisely the kind of clutch performance that wins these events.
Looking back, Towns' victory represents more than just another All-Star Weekend highlight. It signals a continuing evolution in how we perceive player positions and skills in modern basketball. The fact that a center can outshoot the league's best guards speaks volumes about how the game has changed. Personally, I believe we'll see more big men developing this level of shooting proficiency in coming years, making the three-point contest even more competitive. The 2022 edition gave us everything we could want—surprises, record-tying performances, and a winner who defied conventional expectations. It's exactly why I keep coming back to this event year after year, always anticipating what new stories will emerge from those five shooting stations arranged around the three-point line.
