How Cavaliers Star Donovan Mitchell Can Win NBA Three-Point Contest

Experience and motivation can will the Cavs' star to a trophy. Here's how Donovan Mitchell can bring the three-point title back to Cleveland.

Nov 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after hitting a three point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The NBA All-Star break is here, and with that comes all the traditional festivities fans and players have grown to love. The dunk contest has lost some of its shine over the last decade.

The Skills Contest has seen many iterations. The one constant: the Three-Point Shooting Contest. And for Cavaliers’ star Donovan Mitchell, he is hoping the third time is the charm.

Like all things in life, experience is key. This is the third time Donovan Mitchell will be participating in the Three-Point Contest, his second as a Cavalier.

His first Three-Point Contest was in 2021, when he was a member of the Utah Jazz. In that contest, Mitchell scored 22 points in the first round but was eliminated.

In 2024, as a Cavalier, Mitchell scored 21 points in the first round and was also eliminated.

Now it is 2026. Mitchell has been here before and is more motivated than ever. Mitchell wants nothing more than to be in the final three at night’s end. He wants to hoist that trophy.

Mitchell is shooting better than his career average of 36.7% from range this season, currently at 37.6%. Mitchell has already taken and made more three-pointers this year than he did in his previous competition years in 2021 and 2024. 

He is a shooter who keeps on shooting, and he has found more and more success from range. And you know he has spent the last few days practicing his routine for the racks and the moneyballs and his spots, so come the Contest, he can go about his business with as little stress and nerves as possible. 

Mitchell is a veteran. He is a leader. He is his team’s number one scoring option. He is one of the more prolific scorers in the entire league. We have all seen him go on heaters where he just does not miss. If he catches fire, there is zero reason why Mitchell cannot hoist the trophy at the end of the night.

WHO IS HE GOING UP AGAINST?

Feb 15, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) competes in the three-point contest during All Star Saturday Night ahead of the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

He has stiff competition, though, with two former champions competing at this year’s event. Damian Lillard, who has been out all season, will return to an NBA court for the first time back as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers to participate. Lillard won this contest two times, back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.

Devin Booker is also participating in this year’s contest, one that he won back in 2018.

The other players participating this year are Kon Kneuppel, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Norman Powell, and Bobby Portis Jr.

Kneuppel is one of the most prolific rookie three-point shooters in NBA history. Maxey and Powell are natural scorers and are go-to options on their respective teams. Jamal Murray is an NBA Finals champion and knows how to hit a big-time three-pointer. Then there is Bobby Portis, the only forward to participate in this year’s event, but he is shooting 45% from deep so far this season.

Mitchell is one of the more experienced three-point contestants tonight, but he is going against two former champions and a slew of top-of-the-line scorers in the NBA. One must remember, Mitchell is amongst those top scorers, leaving the door wide open for him to emerge tonight as a three-point champion, finally.