By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns became the first center to win the All-Star Weekend’s 3-point contest and did so in record-breaking fashion.
Towns registered 29 points in the Final to pass the previous record of 28 set by Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker in 2018. The Timberwolves big man beat Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young and Los Angeles Clippers’ Luke Kennard who both finished the Final with 26 points.
Kennard marched to the Final after scoring 28 points in the opening round but got outplayed by Towns.
“I’m up there with the best shooting big men of all time, and I think this trophy proves it,” Towns said. At 6’11”, Towns is the second-tallest player to claim the title after Dallas Mavericks great Dirk Nowitzki (7′) who won it in 2006.
“This is for all the tall kids who were told they can’t succeed unless they play with their back to the basket,” Town also mentioned.
Brooklyn Nets’ Patty Mills, Memphis Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane, Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet, New Orleans Pelicans’ CJ McCollum and Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine were the other participants that didn’t go past the first round.