Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell declined the opportunity to participate in the 2023 NBA 3-point contest, Cleveland.com Cavs reporter Chris Fedor wrote in a Tuesday article.
“I would’ve done it had (Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry) been in it this year,” Mitchell told cleveland.com.
Curry and Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who won a combined three titles over the last eight contests, will not be participating in the 2023 NBA 3-point contest this year. Curry will miss the All-Star game after he exited to the Warriors locker room when he suffered a leg injury against the Dallas Mavericks in early February.
The 2023 NBA 3-point contest will feature an entirely new slate of players than the 2022 group that competed in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse the year before. The 2023 roster was highlighted by Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who are shooting 37.5% on 11 3-point attempts per game and 35.3% on 9.3 attempts, respectively, according to Basketball Reference. Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro and Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter round out the players from teams with one representative.
Two teams, the Trail Blazers and Indiana Pacers, will have two players representing them in the contest. The Pacers will send guards Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, while Lillard and guard Anfernee Simons will take up the mantle for the Blazers.
Donovan Mitchell, who became an All-Star starter for the first time in his career, competed in the 2021 3-point contest, where he tied for fourth place in his first appearance in the event. He earned 22 points in his first round, good enough to tie with Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, before then-Jazz guard Mike Conley, Tatum and Curry moved on to the contest finals.
Mitchell won the dunk contest in 2018, earning the victory over then-Cavs forward Larry Nance Jr.
“I wanted this so badly, man,” Mitchell said after the event. “This is one of my favorite events of All-Star Weekend, growing up as a kid watching it, not only being in it but to win it—it’s crazy.”
