Get ready to be in awe as the league’s best shooters come in to light it up as bright as the Times Square lights...
The NBA announced some epic news as the monumental All Star weekend in New York City is approaching. In a season where it is just a shooter’s delight from every rising superstar, the NBA has came up with the fascinating ability to bring in the next generation of long range bombers to showcase in front of millions of fans worldwide.
Announced yesterday, the league has decided to include the Golden State Warriors “Splash Bros”‘ own Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in the Foot Locker Three Point Contest. Along with the dynamic duo who are participating in the competition are Atlanta Hawks veteran Kyle Korver, Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews, and Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick.
Out of all the festivities going on this weekend, this event has a great possibility to steal the All Star Weekend for more reasons than one. When you have the league’s hottest superstar part taking in a event such as this, expect A-list celebrities to come out and to experience greatness. Already named Western Conference All-Star starter and vote leader, Steph Curry has been outshooting the competition on a consistent basis. As a early favorite to bring home the 2014-2015 NBA regular season MVP award, Curry is averaging 22.8 PPG, Â 8.2 APG while shooting nearly 40% from 3 point land. Night after night, Curry has been proving to fans why Drake compared his wrist game to the young trifecta bomber from North Carolina. A son of former NBA three point shooting great Dell Curry, Steph is already in pace to surpass his pops legacy while putting himself in the position to stamp his own mark in the elite list of shooting greats who put on a NBA uniform.
Next up, there’s Steph’s 3 ball partner in crime Klay Thompson. The other half of the Splash bro combo has quietly been flying under everyone’s radar, just averaging 23.0 PPG while shooting 45% from the 3-point field goal. Thompson had the entire nation riding his wave by his unpredictable, historical shooting performance he put up against the Sacramento Kings. The 3 year veteran from out of Washington State University set a new NBA record for scoring the most points in a single quarter, putting up 37 points while shooting 9 for 9 in three point range. He ended up finishing his night with 52 points as he led his Warriors to a blow out 126-101 win over the Kings. The son of former Laker great Mychal Thompson, Klay definitely shows where he gets his NBA game ready genetics from. The threatening thing about this young vet is that he’s only 24 years old and the kid is just warming up as he plays a major role into why the Warriors are the NBA’s most entertaining and best team in the Western Conference.
If you want to mention or refer to any young shooting guard to keep an eye on when it comes to consistently shooting at a high percentage, you have no choice but to put Kyle Korver in the conversation. The 11 year veteran from out of Creighton University is having a monstrous season for the Atlanta Hawks. Currently shooting 51% from the field, 53% from 3 point land and 92% from the free throw line, Korver is attempting to become the first NBA player ever to finish the season shooting at least 50% from the field, 50% from 3 point land, and 90 % from the free throw line. The only player who came close to this feat was the Splash Bros’ current head coach and Chicago Bulls sharpshooting great Steve Kerr. Statisticians said he was able to accomplish this feat, but unfortunately it was not recognized in the NBA record books because of the limited amount of field goal attempts Kerr put up that season. The superstar proclaimed as “Ashton Kutcher’s look alike”, Kyle plays a major role of why Jeff Teague is a All Star reserve and why the Atlanta Hawks has been surprising the league as the Eastern Conference’s leaders with the record of 38-8.
Portland Trail Blazer’s Wesley Matthews will be considered a dark horse heading into this contest. The Lone Star state shooter has been doing the excellent job for sharing the scoring load with Portland’s superstar point guard Damian Lillard. The 28 year old veteran is averaging 16.4 PPG while averaging roughly 4 three a night. Son of former NBA journey man Wes Matthews, Wesley is ranked in the top tier amongst three pointers made in the Western Conference. The former Marquette great will definitely have some NYC fans on hand as he gain supporters from putting up numerous of outstanding shooting performance playing summer pro-Am basketball leagues such as the highly touted Nike Pro City league.
Lastly, there’s LA Clippers guard J.J. Redick. Redick is an 11 year veteran who was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2006. J.J. struggled with the transition of becoming a key player in the NBA, as he was bounced around a couple of times before finding his home in LA. The all-time Duke leader in 3 point shooting history, JJ has been playing a vital role of knocking down threes alongside 6th man great Jamal Crawford. Currently, J.J. averages 14.9 PPG while shooting 44% from three point land. One of college basketball’s greatest shooters, Redick is coming into his own while proving he can hang with the league’s elite shooting bandits. Just ask CP3; Redick has helped the Clippers stretch the offense out in which led to ridiculous highlight reels from Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
As you can see, the fans in New York are due to have an epic, star-studded night at the arena Young Hova built known as Barclays Center. If you can’t make it to see it live, no worries. You can be able to watch it live on Saturday February 14 on the TNT network.
-Omari White (@SmooveGuyO)
