Still recovering from a fracture in his left knee, Kobe Bryant wasn’t able to compete in the 2014 All-Star Game but he did hold a press conference where he discussed many topics, including participating in a Saturday night event during the 2015 All-Star weekend.
In part due to 2014 winner Marco Belinelli’s average performance, Bryant expressed his desire to compete in the three-point contest next season when the All-Star festivities head to New York according to Ben Bolch of the L.A. Times:
Bryant said he would like to participate in the three-point contest as part of All-Star weekend in 2015.
“Marco [Belinelli] won with shooting five airballs,” Bryant said. “I might not win, but I won’t shoot five airballs in the three-point contest, I don’t think. But we’ll see.”
Bryant is currently a 33.5% three-point shooter for his career, which would have placed him last among this year’s contestants. While his career percentage is on the lower end of the spectrum, Bryant is capable of getting on a hot streak and throwing percentages out the window.
In 2003, Bryant made 12 three-pointers against the Seattle Supersonics, which is tied for the NBA record. During the January game, Bryant shot well above his career average as he missed only six of his attempts, finishing the game at 66.7% from three-point territory.
Aside from being voted into 16 All-Star games and winning All-Star MVP on four occasions, Bryant won the Slam Dunk contest in 1997 and participated in the Skills Challenge in 2007.
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