LeBron James is making 42.5% of his 3-pointers – by far the best percentage of his career – while attempting a healthy 4.8 per game this season.
Could he participate in the 3-point contest at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles?
LeBron, via Jason Lloyd of The Athletic:
Lakers fans can rejoice at LeBron again mentioning the comfort of his Los Angeles “home.” It obviously doesn’t mean he’ll sign with the Lakers next summer, but it’s a positive indicator.
As for LeBron in the 3-point contest, it’d be mostly about his name recognition. He’s a viable choice, but C.J. McCollum, Tobias Harris, Joe Ingles, Klay Thompson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Kyle Korver, Aaron Gordon, Victor Oladipo, Gary Harris, Will Barton and Kevin Durant are all surpassing LeBron in 3-point attempts per game and 3-point percentage. That doesn’t even include the best 3-point shooter of all-time and a player in his prime, Stephen Curry, or the reigning contest champion, Eric Gordon.
The Collective Bargaining Agreement requires All-Stars – which LeBron will surely be – to participate in at least one Saturday-night event (not including the dunk contest) if the league so chooses. So, LeBron could be pressed into the 3-point contest against his wishes. That said, LeBron has the ear of commissioner Adam Silver. Would the NBA really make LeBron compete if he doesn’t want to?
