Bucks' Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley and Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton set for all-star three-point contest

Malik Beasley is shimmying his way to Indianapolis, as the Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard will join teammate Damian Lillard in the NBA all-star three-point contest on Feb. 17.

Lillard, who was elected a starter for the game on Feb. 18 along with teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo, will defend his title. Beasley will be making his first appearance in the contest.

Indiana Pacers guard and Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton reportedly also will take part in the contest.

The 27-year-old Beasley signed a one-year deal with the Bucks in the offseason and is putting together one of the better three-point shooting seasons in franchise history.

He is currently shooting 45.1% from behind the three-point line, but in the first 41 games of the season he made 47.5% of his three-point attempts and at one point was over 48%.

Beasley also has 11 games of making five or more three-pointers, which is one game shy of tying Ray Allen’s franchise record set in 2000-01. Dell Curry set the club record for three-point percentage in a season by making 47.6% of his three-point attempts in 1998-99, but he attempted only 3.5 per game.

Bobby Portis made 47.1% of his 2.4 attempts per game in 2020-21.

Beasley is shooting at least 6 three-pointers per game, a volume the top 10 single-season three-point shooters in franchise history never approached.

Beasley was a career 37.8% shooter from deep in his previous seven seasons; only two other players in the NBA (Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield) have made more total threes since 2020-21.

Though his performance merited a selection in the contest, which typically features eight players – many of whom are already in the All-Star Game – Beasley campaigned for an invite with apparel and media appearances.

“I would love to be a part of the three-point contest,” he said in mid-January. “Not only be there, win it. I think I have a strong chance. Even last year I did a campaign with the Jazz and didn’t make it. This year, hopefully I do. The last few years I’m third in field goals made from three, so I’m trying to put the league on notice.”

Damian Lillard defends three-point contest title

Lillard, who will start in the All-Star Game for the first time in eight trips, will defend his title after beating Haliburton and Hield last year in Salt Lake City.

“At first I would ask him for advice because he’s been in it – I’ve already asked for advice,” Beasley said of his teammate. “But at the same time, once we get out there – it’s going to be fun and games – but I think when we both get to shooting I think we’re both going to try to win. Hopefully one of us is holding the championship up at the end of the night and that’s good for the organization.”

Last year, Lillard edged Hield 26-25 in the final round – on his final shot from deep. The competition introduced a final shot about 30 feet away, which is worth three points.

Lillard will compete in the competition for the fourth time.

Tyrese Haliburton returns to three-point contest

After Lillard bested Haliburton last year in the final, Haliburton called his shot at returning for 2024.“Book Tyrese next year,” he said in Salt Lake City. “I’ll be in the contest next year. I’m going to get this back. I’m going to get it back for sure.”

He tied a three-point contest record with 31 points in his first round but finished with 17 in the final to finish third behind Lillard and Hield.

Haliburton is shooting 39.8% from three-point range this season.

Bucks in the three-point contest

Ray Allen is the only Bucks player to win the annual skills competition, in 2001. Here is a list of participants:

• Craig Hodges (1986-88)
• Erick Murdock (1994)
• Ray Allen (2000-02)
• Khris Middleton (2016, 2019)