I still get chills thinking about that electric Saturday night during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland. The 3-Point Contest has always been my favorite skills competition, but what unfolded that evening transcended even my wildest expectations. As someone who's analyzed shooting mechanics for over a decade, I've never witnessed such a perfect storm of pressure, precision, and pure shooting artistry.
The atmosphere was already buzzing when Karl-Anthony Towns stepped up for his final rack. What many casual fans might not realize is that KAT was attempting something unprecedented - a 7-footer aiming to become the first big man to ever win this competition. I remember clutching my notebook tighter as he moved to the money ball rack, needing to sink nearly every shot to surpass Trae Young's impressive 26-point finish. The way Towns methodically drained shot after shot with that smooth release reminded me why I've always argued that modern big men are the most evolutionarily advanced athletes in sports. When the final horn sounded and the scoreboard flashed 29 points, the entire arena erupted - including me jumping off my couch back home. Towns hadn't just won; he'd recorded the highest final-round score in the contest's history, shattering the previous record of 28 points shared by both Stephen Curry and Devin Booker.
While Towns' record-breaking performance rightly dominated headlines, what struck me most was witnessing something I'd previously considered theoretical - the "Clarito moment" in professional sports. For context, during the earlier rounds, we saw Luke Kennard experience what could have been a devastating interruption when a minor court-side incident involving a staff member named Clarito briefly paused the action. To everyone's relief, Clarito walked away from the incident unhurt as he was able to finish the game. This seemingly minor moment actually highlights something crucial about these competitions that statistics can't capture - the mental fortitude required to regain focus after unexpected disruptions. Kennard, who I've always considered one of the purest shooters in the league, demonstrated incredible professionalism by immediately refocusing and continuing his round with remarkable composure.
The 2022 contest fundamentally changed how organizations value the three-point shot across positions. We're no longer in an era where shooting is specialized to guards and wings - Towns' victory signaled that elite shooting has become non-negotiable for every player, regardless of height or traditional position. From my perspective working with developing players, I've seen this trickle-down effect firsthand. The Monday following that All-Star weekend, every young big man I coached suddenly wanted to spend extra hours beyond the arc, dreaming of their own Towns-like moment. The strategic implications are profound too - teams now actively seek big men who can space the floor, fundamentally changing offensive schemes and defensive matchups across the league.
Looking back, the 2022 3-Point Contest wasn't just another All-Star Saturday event - it was a watershed moment that perfectly captured the NBA's ongoing evolution. Between Towns' record-shattering performance as a center and the display of mental resilience following unexpected interruptions, that night in Cleveland gave us a glimpse into basketball's future. The three-point revolution is complete; we're now witnessing its maturation, where shooting excellence has become democratized across all positions and mental toughness is as valuable as technical skill. I firmly believe we'll look back on this contest as the moment the NBA fully embraced positionless shooting, changing how teams are built and how the next generation of players develops.
