Bucks' Middleton to participate in NBA 3-point contest
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton has been selected to participate in the 2016 3-Point Contest on Saturday night as part of the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend. Middleton will go up against seven of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA in a two-round, timed competition to determine the top shooter from beyond the arc.
Middleton, 24, is in the midst of his best season as a professional. In 51 games, Middleton has led the scoring charge for the Bucks, averaging a team-high 17.6 points per game while draining 41.2 percent of his 3-point attempts. Of the 48 players with more than 200 3-point attempts this season, Middleton's 41.2 shooting percentage from three ranks fourth behind only J.J. Redick (48.2 percent), Stephen Curry (45.8 percent) and Klay Thompson (43.4 percent). Middleton is currently averaging a career-best 2.0 3-pointers per game and has converted three or more 3-pointers in a game 16 times this season.
Curry (Golden State), Thompson (Golden State) and Redick (Los Angeles Clippers), along with Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Chris Bosh (Miami Heat), James Harden (Houston Rockets) and Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), will join Middleton in this year's competition. Curry returns to defend his 2015 3-point title after he made 13 straight 3s and scored 27 points in the championship round of last year's competition to secure the win.
Middleton is the Bucks' first representative in the 3-point contest since Ray Allen participated in 2002, and will seek to become the first winner from the Bucks since 2001 when Allen won. Middleton joins Bucks forward Jabari Parker and owner Marc Lasry at NBA All-Star Weekend. Parker will be on the U.S. Team in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge while Lasry will participate in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
