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Barry goes for unprecedented double Posted: Saturday February 08, 2003 2:17 PMATLANTA (Ticker) -- Brent Barry used to be a high flier. On Saturday, he will be a mad bomber. Barry goes for an unprecedented marquee event double when he tries to unseat defending champion Peja Stojakovic in the Shootout on All-Star Saturday at Philips Arena. A former Slam Dunk champion, Barry is trying to become the first player to win the two events that have carried All-Star Saturday virtually since its inception nearly two decades years ago. The 6-6 veteran guard of the Seattle SuperSonics is the ninth player to enter both events, joining Michael Jordan, Ray Allen, Allan Houston, Bob Sura, Clyde Drexler, Kenny Smith, Michael Cooper and Nick Anderson. "Just to be part of another All-Star Weekend - a lot of players play their whole career and never get a chance to do it," Barry said. "But to actually be a part of the festivities is really a tremendous honor. Hopefully, I'll put on a good show." Barry put on quite a show seven years ago in San Antonio, when as a second-year player with the Los Angeles Clippers, he twice took off from near the foul line and dunked to stun the crowd and win the Slam Dunk Contest. Everyone knew Barry had a little elevation to his game, but no one thought he was the best dunker in the league - least of all Barry, who claims his victory was somewhat tainted. "I'm not a dunker," Barry said. "I just greased enough palms in San Antonio to win it the first time. Now I'm there to compete in something that I actually have skill in doing. The first one was kind of lucky." Barry also believes some luck is needed to win the Shootout, where six players will fire 25 3-pointers in 60 seconds, trying to find their stroke and keep it. "It's such an arbitrary thing," said Barry, who is shooting 41.6 percent from the arc. "Anyone who gets hot is going to win. I'm just hoping I could get hot." Someone will have to get hot to upend Stojakovic, the All-Star forward of the Sacramento Kings who has supplanted Milwaukee Bucks guard Ray Allen as the NBA's best shooter. He is making 40 percent of his 3-pointers and has made his reputation in this event. Two years ago, Stojakovic was edged by Allen in the final round. Last year, he needed overtime to defeat Memphis Grizzlies guard Wesley Person and became the first foreigner to win the award. This year, he will be trying to become the fifth repeat winner of the event. "I just go out there and have fun," Stojakovic said. "I don't think about it. I did that my first year (practiced), and I lost. I am not going to do that again." Person, who is making a league-leading 48.1 percent of his 3-pointers, is back to challenge Stojakovic. Also entered are Boston Celtics All-Star forward Antoine Walker, Orlando Magic forward Pat Garrity and New Orleans Hornets guard David Wesley. First prize is $25,000. Barry would like to win, if for nothing other than he considers himself a shooter, not a dunker. "I've been shooting threes my whole career," Barry said. "Winning the dunk contest kind of puts a label on you." Jason Richardson is OK with that label. The second-year guard of the Golden State Warriors is back to defend his title in the Slam Dunk Contest, which also features Seattle swingman Desmond Mason, New Jersey Nets second-year swingman Richard Jefferson and Phoenix Suns rookie forward Amare Stoudemire. Last year's contest was an awkward one as the dunkers had to spin a "wheel of fortune," which told them what type of dunk to execute. In the final round, Richardson was given a replacement dunk after missing and apparently losing. The winner receives $25,000. Mason won in 2001 and will be looking to reclaim the title from Richardson, whose win last year capped a big day. Earlier, he won MVP honors in the Rookie Challenge, scoring 26 points to lead the Rookies to a 103-97 victory over the Sophomores. This year, Richardson is on the Sophomores, who surprisingly have lost two of three under the current format. "The Sophomores will represent," he maintained. "I think last year the Sophomores didn't take the Rookies seriously. But this year, we're going to win." Richardson is joined by Warriors teammates Gilbert Arenas and Troy Murphy, Jefferson, 2002 Rookie of the Year Pau Gasol of Memphis, Andrei Kirilenko of Utah, Tony Parker of San Antonio, Jamaal Tinsley of Indiana and Tyson Chandler of Chicago. They will be coached by former NBA coach and current TNT analyst Mike Fratello. "He asked me to be assistant coach," TNT announcer Marv Albert joked. "I asked him what I had to do and he told me I'd keep key statistics, points in the paint, offensive rebounds, those types of things. But I told him if he gets annoying, I'm leaving at the half." The Rookies are comprised of Stoudemire, Jay Williams of Chicago, Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek of Memphis, Nene Hilario of Denver, Caron Butler of Miami, Marko Jaric of the Los Angeles Clippers and Dajuan Wagner and Carlos Boozer of Cleveland. They will be coached by former NBA coach Cotton Fitzsimmons. Arenas, Giricek, Jaric and Boozer and the only players who were not selected in the first round. Giricek is a Croatian and one of six international players, joining Gasol (Spain), Kirilenko (Russia), Parker (France), Hilario (Brazil) and Jaric (Yugoslavia). The day's festivities also include the inaugural Skills Challenge and the Celebrity Hoop-it-Up. All of the events will be televised by TNT beginning at 4 p.m. EST. © 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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