Devin Booker finishes second in NBA 3-point contest behind Damian Lillard

At the 2026 All-Star Saturday showcase, the Phoenix Suns star looked poised to etch his name into history. He opened the three-point contest with 30 points, the highest score in the first round. Booker’s rhythm was smooth, mechanics were repeatable, and it was the kind of round that travels well from exhibition to playoff pressure. In the finals, it came down to Booker, Damian Lillard, and rookie wildcard Kon Knueppel. Knueppel posted 17, Lillard surged to 29, and Booker went last.

Devin Booker’s final round in the 2026 NBA 3-point contest:

Devin Booker knew that 30 was already proven, and all he had to do was torch the racks. This round was different, as the money balls felt heavier. The final three attempts, each one a chance to tie or take the lead, couldn’t find the bottom of the net. He finished two points short.

Absolute heartbreaker for Booker and for fans watching, as this also wasn’t just about a trophy. Had Booker won, he would’ve become the ninth two-time champion and owned the longest gap between titles in contest history. That matters historically; what matters more now is trajectory. For Suns fans, the takeaway isn’t the loss. It’s the moment that includes all the pressure, stakes, and execution under a clock. Booker embraced all of it.