Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu are currently competing in a three-point contest
A different kind of three-point contest appears to be in the works for the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend. The headliners? Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday that a three-point shootout will take place pitting Curry against Ionescu during All-Star festivities at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.
Curry teased the matchup Thursday while mic’d up before the Golden State Warriors’ contest against the Sacramento Kings. During pregame warmups, Curry asked Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski if he knew who holds the record for most points in a three-point competition.
“Sabrina?” responded Podziemski.
“Oooh! We’ve got to settle this once and for all. I think I got to challenge her. It’d be lit,” said Curry.
Curry is tied with Tyrese Haliburton for the most points in an NBA three-point contest at 31. The Warriors guard notched the feat back in 2021 when he won his second three-point competition crown.
But Ionescu one-upped Curry last year when she erupted for 37 points during the 2023 WNBA three-point contest. She challenged Curry to a shootout shortly after. Now, the world will actually get to see the deep-shot battle take place.
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Golden State Warriors’ forward Draymond Green further penalized for on-court antics
The ramifications keep on coming for Draymond Green following multiple suspensions this season, with on-court misconduct forcing the Golden State Warriors’ forward out of Team USA selection for this year’s Olympics.
USA Basketball announced an initial 41-man squad for Paris 2024 on Tuesday, headed by LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Green was a notable absentee from the group, inviting questions on how much his suspensions had played a part.
Draymond Green’s on-court antics for the Golden State Warriors have ruled him out of the chance to win three-straight Olympic Gold Medals
On Wednesday, USA Basketball Executive Director Grant Hill confirmed Green’s suspensions eliminated him from the process as the team looks to bounce back from a disappointing World Cup campaign in Asia last year.
The decision to omit Green is particularly fascinating given any decision almost assuredly involved Golden State head coach Steve Kerr who will again lead Team USA in Paris.
Green was a member of the last two Olympic Gold Medal winning teams in Rio and Tokyo, but will have to watch from home this time around. It will provide him the opportunity to prepare for next NBA season in the hopes of further repaying the faith shown by Golden State in recent times.
The former Defensive Player of the Year was first suspended for five games following a chokehold on Rudy Gobert, before his hit on Jusuf Nurkic warranted an indefinite suspension that resulted in a 16-game absence.
Curry is expected to make his Olympic debut and end a near 10-year hiatus from the national team, with veteran point-guard Chris Paul the only other Warrior named in the preliminary squad.
Golden State returned to the floor on Wednesday night following the death of beloved assistant coach Dejan Milojević, with Green having a significant impact in the 134-112 win over the Atlanta Hawks.4
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