Tyler Herro set to participate in 3-Point Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend

A former Kentucky sharpshooter is putting his shooting talents to the test.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is among the eight participants set to battle it out at the 3-Point Contest during the upcoming 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. Herro, who played at UK during the 2018-19 season, is looking to become the third one-time Wildcat to win the event, joining Karl-Anthony Towns (2022) and Devin Booker (2018).

Now in his fourth NBA season, Herro has been lighting it up for Miami. After winning the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2021-22, he hasn’t skipped a beat in 2022-23. Herro is averaging 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from distance (on 8.1 attempts per game), and 92.2 percent from the free throw line.

Sources: NBA 3-Point Contest participants at All-Star Weekend: Boston's Jayson Tatum, Sacramento's Kevin Huerter, Miami's Tyler Herro, Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, Portland's Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons and Utah's Lauri Markkanen.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 14, 2023

Along with Herro, several of the NBA’s best outside shooters will look to hold the unofficial title of top marksman. His competition includes Jayson Tatum (BOS), Kevin Huerter (SAC), Tyrese Haliburton (IND), Buddy Hield (IND), Damian Lillard (POR), Anfernee Simons (POR), and Lauri Markkanen (UTA). Herro actually has the second-worst 3-point percentage of the group, which should give you an idea of how talented this year’s field is.

Tatum 35.3% (9.3 attempts per game)
Herro 36.9% (8.1 attempts per game)
Lillard 37.5% (11.0 attempts per game)
Simons 38.1% (9.3 attempts per game)
Huerter 39.0% (6.7 attempts per game)
Haliburton 39.8% (7.3 attempts per game)
Markkanen 41.2% (7.4 attempts per game)
Hield 42.3%(9.0 attempts per game)

Over the last half-decade, the 3-Point Contest has been filled with former ‘Cats. Booker has actually participated in the event four times (2016, 2017-20) throughout his eight NBA seasons, winning it once. Towns also won it last season in his debut. Prior to this recent stretch, Antoine Walker was the last Kentucky player to participate, losing in 2003 to Peja Stojakovic. Kyle Macy is the only other Wildcat to take on the challenge, losing to Larry Bird (who won the event three times in a row) in the very first 3-Point Contest back in 1986.

The NBA Starry 3-Point Contest is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18, and will be the second event of the night, which begins at 8:00 p.m. EST.