Relive the Epic 2016 NBA 3 Point Contest: Who Won and Made History?
I still get chills thinking about that Saturday night in Toronto during All-Star Weekend 2016. The air in the Air Canada Centre crackled with anticipation—we all knew we were about to witness something special in the three-point contest. See, I've been covering basketball for fifteen years now, and what makes these shooting contests memorable isn't just who wins, but the stories that unfold and the moments that become etched in basketball history. That night delivered all that and more, creating a narrative so compelling it still resonates today, much like how international basketball creates its own dramatic arcs, such as the Philippines women's team securing their spot in the 2026 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifying tournament despite a challenging 1-4 campaign record—a testament to resilience that mirrors the spirit of that 2016 contest.
The field itself was stacked with legendary shooters. You had the defending champion, Stephen Curry, coming off an MVP season and looking utterly invincible. Then there was his "Splash Brother" Klay Thompson, the quiet assassin capable of catching fire at any moment. But the guy I was secretly rooting for—and I'll admit my bias here—was James Harden. His unconventional style and step-back threes had revolutionized offensive play, and I thought he had a real shot. The first round was pure fireworks. Curry did what Curry does, putting up a solid 21 points, but it was Klay Thompson who stunned everyone by racking up 22 points, including a blistering final rack where he just couldn't miss. The real drama, however, was for the second spot in the finals. It came down to a tie between Devin Booker, the young phenom, and J.J. Redick, the veteran pure-shooter. They had to go to a tiebreaker, and Redick, with that picture-perfect jumper of his, advanced. I remember leaning over to a colleague and whispering, "This is setting up for a Warriors showdown," and the arena seemed to agree, the energy shifting into something more intense, more focused.
What happened next is the stuff of legend, the kind of performance you tell your kids about. The final round began, and Klay Thompson, going first, put on an absolute clinic. He was methodical, precise, and devastatingly efficient. When his final money ball swished through the net, the scoreboard lit up with 27 points. Twenty-seven! I literally jumped out of my seat. At that time, it tied the highest score ever recorded in a final round. The crowd was deafening. We all thought it was over. How could anyone possibly top that? Curry, the final shooter, walked to his spot with a calmness that was almost unnerving. The pressure was immense. He started on the left wing, and honestly, he began a bit shaky. He missed a couple early, and I remember my heart sinking, thinking the crown would pass to his teammate. But then he moved to the corner, and something clicked. He caught fire. The nets barely moved, just that familiar swish sound over and over. He needed a near-perfect run on his last two racks to win. And he did it. He was flawless, hitting shot after shot until the final money ball from the top of the key sealed his victory with a score that just edged out Klay's—23 points in the final round to claim his second three-point contest title.
That final sequence was more than just a win; it was a historical moment that solidified Curry's reputation as the greatest shooter the game has ever seen. Beating his own teammate in such a high-stakes, dramatic fashion felt like a defining chapter in his legacy. It wasn't just about the trophy; it was about asserting dominance in the most poetic way possible. This idea of a single moment defining a journey is universal in basketball. It reminds me of the recent achievement by the Philippines women's national team. Finishing a tough campaign with a 1-4 overall record might seem disappointing on the surface, but the crucial fact is they still secured a place in the pre-qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIBA Basketball Women’s World Cup. That single achievement—earning that spot—is their winning moment. It's their version of hitting that final money ball, a testament to their fight and a gateway to future glory, proving that sometimes, the final score doesn't tell the whole story.
Looking back, the 2016 Three-Point Contest was a perfect storm of narrative, talent, and sheer, unadulterated skill. It had everything a basketball fan could want: rivalry, record-tying performances, and an unbelievable comeback that left us all breathless. For me, it reinforced why I love this game. It's these flashes of brilliance, these pockets of time where athletes transcend the sport and create magic, that stay with you forever. Curry's victory was a masterclass in handling pressure, a skill every athlete, from NBA superstars to national teams like the Philippines fighting for their World Cup dream, must master. That night in Toronto wasn't just a contest; it was a masterpiece, and one I feel privileged to have witnessed firsthand. The echoes of those swishes and the roar of that crowd are a permanent part of basketball's rich tapestry.