SAN FRANCISCO — Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro said he overprepared for his first 3-point contest at 2023 All-Star Weekend.
He prepared less this year, shooting 3-pointers off a rack Saturday morning for the first time since that event in Salt Lake City two years ago.
“My mindset tonight was just to come in and let it fly,” Herro said.
That approach worked.
Herro won his first 3-point contest, scoring 24 points in the final round and beating finalists Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard, the 2024 and 2023 3-point champion, New York’s Jalen Brunson, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson, and Los Angeles Clippers’ Norman Powell were eliminated in the first round. Lillard was trying to join Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time winners.
Going last in the final round, Hield had the home crowd behind him, and after a slow start to his final round, he needed to make his final five shots to win. He made his first three on the final rack, missed the fourth and made the fifth – for 23 points.
Hield had the best opening-round score of 31, but struggled in the final, missing his first seven attempts.
“Tough one. Bad start,” Hield said.
Herro went first in the final round and used that to his advantage. “Putting a number down right away, putting a little pressure on them, I think that played a factor,” Herro said.
In the finals, Herro made both Starry money balls – worth three points instead of two – and made six of seven shots during one stretch to get the victory. “It felt cold in the arena the first time I went. For the second time, I felt more loose going right away,” he said.
Herro, 25, earned his first All-Star appearance in 2025 amid the best season of his career. He is averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists and is shooting 46.5% from the field and 38% on 3s. He is tied for the fourth in made 3s this season with 189.
The Heat are 25-28 and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They lost four in a row before the All-Star break and traded Jimmy Butler to Golden State for Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a 2025 first-round pick in a multi-team deal.
“The record isn’t what we want it to be,” Herro said, “but I feel like there’s a breath of fresh air around our locker room, our arena, our city.”
What is the prize money for winning the 3-point contest?
First place: $60,000
Second place: $40,000
Third place: $25,000
Fourth place: $15,000
Fifth place: $15,000
Sixth place: $15,000
Seventh place: $15,000
Eighth place: $10,000
NBA All-Star 3-point contest winners year by year
2025: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
2024: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
2023: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
2022: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
2021: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
2020: Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings
2019: Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets
2018: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
2017: Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets
2016: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
2015: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
2014: Marco Belinelli, San Antonio Spurs
2013: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
2012: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
2011: James Jones, Miami Heat
2010: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
2009: Daequan Cook, Miami Heat
2008: Jason Kapono, Toronto Raptors
2007: Jason Kapono, Toronto Raptors
2006: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
2005: Quentin Richardson, Phoenix Suns
2004: Voshon Lenard, Denver Nuggets
2003: Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings
2002: Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings
2001: Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks
2000: Jeff Hornacek, Utah Jazz
1998: Jeff Hornacek, Utah Jazz
1997: Steve Kerr, Chicago Bulls
1996: Tim Legler, Washington Wizards
1995: Glen Rice, Miami Heat
1994: Mark Price, Cleveland Cavaliers
1993: Mark Price, Cleveland Cavaliers
1992: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls
1991: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls
1990: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls
1989: Dale Ellis Seattle SuperSonics
1988: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
1987: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
1986: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics