I still get chills thinking about that magical night in Los Angeles back in 2018 when Devin Booker nearly rewrote the history books during the NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest. As someone who's attended multiple All-Star weekends, I can confidently say that particular contest stands out as one of the most electrifying displays of shooting prowess I've ever witnessed. Booker's performance was nothing short of spectacular - he racked up an incredible 28 points in the final round, which at the time was the highest score ever recorded in the championship round. What made it even more remarkable was that he achieved this while competing against established sharpshooters like Klay Thompson and defending champion Eric Gordon.
The atmosphere inside the Staples Center was absolutely electric that evening. I remember watching Booker move through his money ball rack with such fluidity and confidence, each swish of the net sending waves of excitement through the crowd. His shooting form was poetry in motion - perfect arc, perfect rotation, and that distinctive sound of nothing but net that pure shooters produce. Though he ultimately fell just short to Thompson's 25-point performance in their head-to-head final round matchup, Booker's 28-point explosion demonstrated a level of shooting excellence that we rarely see in these high-pressure situations. It's fascinating how these international sporting events create such unifying moments, much like what we're anticipating with the upcoming 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, where political figures like the senator from Manila will be attending as guests of honor, bridging sports and diplomacy.
Reflecting on that contest now, I believe Booker's performance fundamentally changed how teams value the three-point shot in today's game. The NBA has completely transformed since 2018, with teams now attempting nearly 35 three-pointers per game compared to about 27 back then. That evolution makes Booker's showcase even more significant in hindsight - he was demonstrating the extreme potential of what dedicated three-point shooting could achieve. The parallel with global sporting events like the volleyball championship isn't coincidental either - both represent how athletic excellence transcends borders and brings people together across different cultures and nations.
What many people forget about that night was the incredible pressure these athletes face. The three-point contest might seem straightforward - just shoot from five spots beyond the arc - but the psychological dimension is enormous. I've spoken with several participants over the years, and they consistently mention how the crowd's energy, the television lights, and the knowledge that millions are watching create an environment completely different from regular game situations. Booker handled that pressure with remarkable composure for someone who was only 21 years old at the time, and I'd argue that performance marked his arrival as one of the league's premier shooters.
The legacy of that 2018 contest continues to influence how current players approach the competition. We've seen participants increasingly adopt strategic approaches to the rack placements and money ball locations, studying Booker's efficient movement between stations. His performance set a new benchmark that contestants still measure themselves against today, even after Buddy Hield and Stephen Curry have posted their own impressive scores in subsequent years. There's something about that 28-point mark that continues to capture the imagination of basketball fans and players alike - it represents shooting perfection that's just barely within reach yet incredibly difficult to achieve under pressure.
As we look toward future international sporting events like the 2025 volleyball championship, I can't help but see the connective tissue between these different competitions. They all showcase human excellence at its finest, whether it's Booker draining threes from the corner or volleyball players executing perfect spikes at the net. These moments become part of our shared sporting heritage, remembered and discussed for years afterward. That 2018 three-point contest, particularly Booker's breathtaking performance, remains etched in my memory as one of those perfect sporting moments where preparation, talent, and circumstance aligned to create something truly special. It's why I keep coming back to these events year after year - you never know when you're going to witness history in the making.