Larry Bird was the first player in NBA history to win the 3-point contest three times. Boston Celtics icon won the first three installments of the long-distance shootout at NBA All-Star Weekend.
However, not only did Bird admit that he really didn’t like shooting 3-pointers, he also revealed that he almost did not join the contest in 1987 because he wanted a bigger prize to motivate him to return and defend his 3-point crown.
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“The only time I liked to shoot the three was in that three-point shootout at the All-Star Game, because you could win some extra money. I think the first time it was like 10,000. And I said, “I ain’t doing it anymore unless you raise it,” said Bird.
“I am the 3-point kind now”
Despite not being known as a 3-point specialist in the league, Bird joined the inaugural contest at the Reunion Arena in Dallas way back in 1986. Bird was up against known long-range bombers like Craig Hodges, Trent Tucker, and Dale Ellis, but Larry Legend emerged victorious
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Interestingly, Hodges was the top scorer after the opening round with 25. He was followed by Tucker’s 19 and Ellis’ 17. Bird was the fourth and final player to make the second round with 16. In round two, Bird turned the tables on the competition and was the top scorer with 18.
Hodges joined him in the final round after scoring 16 in the second round. However, Craig struggled with a 12 in the last round while Bird waxed hot with 22 as he took home the $10,000 cash prize and a trip to Hawaii.
“I am the 3-point king now,” Bird told a reporter, according to an IndyStar article. “I’d rather win the MVP, but this is more exciting. This is tougher than the slam dunk contest because everyone can jump. Not everybody can shoot 3-pointers.”
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Bird barely won in 1987
The following year, the NBA raised the prize for the contest to $12,500, and so with the raise, Bird returned, as promised. Wearing his Celtics warmup jacket throughout the competition, Larry had a close call in 1987 as he missed his last two balls and finished with a modest 16 points in the finals, leaving the door open for Dallas Mavericks forward Detlef Schrempf, who elected to shoot last.
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But Schrempf also struggled, missing his first 10 shots of the final round. He caught fire late and was down to his colored ball. Detlef had 14 points, and the money ball would have forced a shoot-off. With pressure at its highest, that season’s 3-point leader missed the contest-tying shot, giving Bird a narrow 16-14 win.
“I was hitting good from the sides, but the top threw me off by shooting everything to the left. I was shooting with good consistency, but I was missing to the left every time, the same spot, the same arc, and everything. But I got it back when I got over in the corner. I really didn’t shoot as well as I’d like to, but it was good enough to win,” said Bird after the contest.
In another interview, Bird talked about the winner’s prize again. Still, after the close call, he wasn’t too concerned about raising the prize money again.
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“They don’t have to kick it up next year,” Bird said via the Washington Post. “Just show up, pick up the check and go home, that’s my motto now.”
The following year, Larry returned to win his third straight 3-point contest. This time, he won the contest in dramatic fashion, hitting his final ball to break a 15-15 tie with Dale Ellis. Bird’s streak ended in 1989 when he couldn’t compete after surgery to remove bone spurs from his heels.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 7, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.