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Can Trae Young Win the NBA Three-Point Contest?

By Dallin Duffy

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 15: Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA All-Star circuit on February 15, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 15: Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA All-Star circuit on February 15, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Reacting to new that Trae Young will participate in the three-point contest at All-Star weekend before analyzing his chances to win.

Lost a bit in all of the Trade Deadline rumors was the NBA announcing who would participate in the three All-Star Saturday events. Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young will officially be making an appearance in each day of the break. He’d already been announced as a starter in both Friday’s Rising Stars Game and Sunday’s All-Star Game, and on Tuesday, Young was revealed to among the eight player field of the Three-point contest.

Trae will join fellow All-Star Dame Lillard in the contest, with last year’s winner Joe Harris looking to repeat. The Entire list is below.

Can Trae Young win?

Obviously Trae Young could win, he’s one of the league’s best three-point shooters and has a rapid fire release, unlikely to leave any balls on the rack when the clock runs out.

Still, Trae almost never takes wide open shots with his feet squared, which he’ll have to do in Chicago. Young’s ability to drain threes off balance with a hand in his face is a real testament to his game, but might not be the best way to win the contest usually dominated by more catch-and-shoot guys.

One thing that does work in his favor, is the new “Dew Zone” location, which adds two more shots to the routine. The green balls are placed 29.5 feet away from the hoop and will be worth 3 points if made. Participants get an extra five seconds to take the shots.

Young has made a name for himself chucking threes from that 30-foot range, and he regularly takes and makes shots closer to the half court logo than the three-point line.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1187516889724932096

He’s taken 53 shots within the 30-34 foot range, making 32% of them.

In terms of all shots from beyond the arc, Young has taken the 4th most among the eight participants, his 36% clip is the lowest in the group.

Trae’s blueprint to winning is hitting a good amount of shots along the arc, and draining one or two from the “Dew Zone.” If he’s able to find a rhythm, I like his odds to at least make it to the final round.

The Three-point contest will take place in Chicago on All-Star Saturday, February 15th. It’s the middle contest, following the Skills Competition and coming before the Dunk Contest.

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