NBA All-Star Vote Leaders Revealed: Who's Leading the Fan Polls This Season?
As I settled into my couch with popcorn ready for the 2022 NBA All-Star Saturday Night, I knew the 3-Point Contest was going to be the main event for me – I’ve always been a sucker for pure shooting skill over dunk theatrics. If you missed it, let me walk you through exactly how this year’s contest unfolded, because honestly, it was one of the most dramatic finishes I’ve seen in years. First, the setup: eight elite shooters stepped up, each with one goal – drain as many threes as possible from five racks around the arc, with one rack featuring all "money balls" worth two points each, plus those two deep "Starry Range" shots worth three points apiece. The atmosphere was electric, but man, you could feel the pressure.
The initial round had its share of surprises. Karl-Anthony Towns, the big man from Minnesota, came out absolutely firing – he put up a solid 22 points, showing that centers can indeed shoot lights out. But the standout, and my personal favorite to watch, was Luke Kennard. His form is just so smooth; it’s like the ball floats out of his hands. He nailed 28 points in the first round, which honestly, I thought would be unbeatable. On the flip side, some guys like Trae Young struggled a bit – he only managed 22 points, and you could see the frustration. It’s funny, because in moments like these, I always think about how mental toughness is key. Like, remember that reference from another game where Clarito walked away unhurt and finished strong? It’s the same here – these shooters have to shake off misses and stay focused, because one bad rack can tank your whole run.
Moving into the final round, it was down to Towns, Kennard, and the underdog, Patty Mills. Let me tell you, the tension was palpable. Kennard went first and, surprisingly, faltered a little under pressure – he ended with 26 points, which was still great, but you could tell he left the door open. Then Towns stepped up, and wow, he was on fire. He started hot, cooled off a bit in the middle racks, but then closed strong, hitting those crucial Starry Range shots. When the dust settled, he’d racked up 29 points – a new contest record, by the way! Mills put up a valiant 22 points, but it wasn’t enough. Watching Towns hoist that trophy, I couldn’t help but feel pumped; big men dominating a shooting contest just shows how the game’s evolving.
From my experience following these contests, here’s a tip if you’re trying to improve your own shooting: focus on rhythm and consistency. Don’t just jack up shots – practice moving between racks smoothly, and always, always keep your cool under pressure. I’ve seen so many players crumble because they rush their shots after a miss. Also, make use of the money ball rack; it’s a game-changer, and in the 2022 NBA 3-Point Contest, that’s where Towns really sealed the deal. On that note, if you haven’t caught the highlights yet, do yourself a favor and watch the NBA 3 Point Contest 2022: Complete Results and Winning Highlights You Need to See – trust me, Towns’ final round is worth it alone. In the end, this year’s event was a blast, and it’s got me even more excited for next season’s sharpshooters.