2023 NBA 3-Point Contest Odds Favor Buddy Hield Over Damian Lillard (But Neither is the Best Bet)

NBA All-Star Weekend 2023 is almost here, and anticipation is growing ahead of the festivities. The annual 3-Point Contest is always one of the highlights, with several of the league's best marksmen going head-to-head for the long-range crown.

There's a clear favorite heading into this event as Buddy Hield owns the best odds in the field to win the 3-Point Contest at +460, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Hield leads the NBA with 224 three-point makes this season and is shooting a reliable 42.3% from beyond the arc for the Indiana Pacers.

Hield is trailed closely by Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons, who each have +550 to take home the title as champion. The Portland Trail Blazers teammates are both shooting over 37.0% from deep. Jayson Tatum (+600) and Lauri Markkanen (+600) round out a top five full of talented sharpshooters.

Here's the full list of participants and odds for the 3-Point Contest on FanDuel Sportsbook.

NBA Three-Point Contest 2023 Odds

NBA Three-Point Contest Prediction & Best Bet

Buddy Hield is a rightful favorite as he has been lighting it up from deep and has won this event before. However, last year's event proved that anyone can come out on top. Karl-Anthony Towns won with odds set at +1200 and makes the idea of backing another underrated big man worth a shot.

That would be the 7-foot forward Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen checks in ninth in three-point makes this season (164) and is shooting a career-best .412 from beyond the arc — the second-highest of anyone in the contest. He has thrived at Vivint Arena this season, too, where the three-point contest to going to take place on Saturday night.

The Utah Jazz standout will have the crowd on his side as well as the momentum of being named an NBA All-Star for the first time. He has drained a three-pointer in each of his last 45 games and will be looking to be the first Jazz player to win the event since Jeff Hornacek (1998). That's quite a storyline.

Bet: Lauri Markkanen (+600)

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

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