Steph Curry explains his decision not to compete in the 3-point contest at All-Star weekend pic.twitter.com/TS3kVwH4Od
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 3, 2017
For the first time since the 2011-12 season, Stephen Curry will not be participating in the 3-point shootout at All-Star weekend.
The eight participants were announced on Thursday, with Klay Thompson as the Warriors’ representative. Thompson will attempt to defend his title from last season. Curry, the winner in 2015, contemplated attempting to knock Thompson off his throne (as Thompson did to him last season) but ultimately decided against it, prioritizing rest.
Curry explained his decision after Thursday’s 133-120 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I’ve done it six times I think,” Curry said. “I told myself I was going to do it until I won. Then I won. Then I had to defend. And then Klay beat me. So it’s a little bit of an internal battle.”
“But honestly, this All-Star weekend is the slowest schedule-wise I’ve had and I wanted to capitalize on that rest. So it was a tough decision. I love the spotlight being out there shooting, competing with the field, it’s so much fun, the lights, the atmosphere, just you and the rim, but I put a lot of equity into that contest and it’s time to kind of move on.”
