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Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker to Compete in the Three-Point Contest
Not only will Kemba Walker be playing in his first ever all-star game this season but he will also compete in the NBA’s three-point contest.
Kemba Walker will get to represent the Charlotte Hornets on more than one occasion this all-star weekend. He was one of eight players invited to participate in the three-point contest this year. The team will be well represented this season with Frank Kaminsky also playing in the rising stars game.
Walker will be competing against Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon, Wasley Matthews, C.J. McCollum, and Nick Young. In somewhat of a surprise, the NBA’s best three-point shooter in Stephen Curry, won’t be participating in the event. Although, the Golden State Warriors will be represented by the reigning champion in Klay.
Kemba will be the fourth Charlotte Hornet to ever participate in the contest and the first since Glen Rice in 1998. Dell Curry (1992, 1994) and Scott Burrell (1995) were the other two players from the franchise to compete. No Hornets’ player has ever won so Walker could make history by doing so this year.
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Only four points guards have ever won the event with Steph Curry in 2015, Kyrie in 2013, Steve Kerr in 1997, and Mark Price in 1993 and 1994. Of the players competing, Kemba has the fourth-most made three-pointers (135) this season behind Gordon (170), Lowry (162), and Thompson (149). He also has the fourth-highest percentage from deep at 40.3% behind Kyle (42.7%), McCollum (42.3%), and Klay (40.3%).
Walker is enjoying a career season with the Hornets this season. No one would have expected that the 30.4% three-point shooter from two years ago would be shooting over 40% this season and take part in the three-point shootout. His shot has vastly improved and thanks to all of his hard work, Kemba will now get the chance to represent Charlotte and himself on the big stage.
Maybe Kemba’s teammate, Marco Belinelli, can give Walker some advice as the Italian won the event back in 2014. It might be a bit difficult for the Hornets’ point guard because he won’t be taking step back three’s like he normally does in games. It will definitely be exciting to watch him compete in the event this year.
After years of not having a player in the All-Star Game, the Charlotte Hornets will have two players playing in three events. Fans will have more than one opportunity to watch their guys compete. The three-point contest should also be a great warm-up for Kemba Walker before the actual All-Star Game.
