Three years ago, Kenny Atkinson told Joe Harris that he wanted the former Cavalier to be “our Kyle Korver.” Harris was shocked, Atkinson said, but on Saturday night, the 6’6” guard, now in his third year with Brooklyn, is fulfilling the Nets and their coach’s fantasy.
Joe Harris is the winner of the NBA’s Three-Point Contest, beating out the Warriors’ Steph Curry.
CHAMPION pic.twitter.com/adkapbqNhr
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 17, 2019
Harris is the first Net to win the three point contest, as Nets minority owner and alternate NBA governor Joe Tsai’s tweet noted...
— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) February 17, 2019
Harris faced off against Curry and Kings’ Buddy Hield in the final round, scoring two points better than Curry, the 2015 winner, and seven better than Hield.
Harris made 12 consecutive shots at one point in the final round on his way to a score of 26 points. Curry was second with 24, and the Hield was third with 19.
The Warriors’ star made his first nine shots of the final round, then missed three of five shots from the top of the key.
Harris shot with ease and confidence, never changing his expression while shooting ... or watching Curry try to match him.
Just before he started shooting, D’Angelo Russell grabbed Harris and gave him a hug and words of encouragement. Afterwards, he reacted this way...
.@Dloading reacts to Joe Harris' final round! #WeGoHard #StateFarmSaturday #MtnDew3PT @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/YnQX0Vx49o
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2019
It was the second straight win for a Nets player in the Saturday night of All-Star Weekend. Last year, Spencer Dinwiddie won the Skills Competition.
Harris’ win made Dinwiddie look like a prophet Here’s his tweet at the beginning of the competition.
Tried to tell y’all joe and Steph the 2 best shooters in the world
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) February 17, 2019
After the big win, Harris credited the Nets organization. “if you look at the makeup of our Brooklyn Nets team, it’s a lot of guys who were cast off and given a second opportunity.”
He also showed respect to Curry.
“Obviously, its incredible,” Harris said when asked about beating Curry. “Steph is the greatest shooter of all time. Shooting off the rack for a minute is not indicative of being a better shooter than Steph Curry. I don’t want anybody to get this twisted.
“He’s won this thing. He’s participated a number of times. For me to come in my first time and to win. It’s a surreal experience.”
Harris is the classic case of Nets player development. Within hours on January 12, 2016, Harris underwent surgery on his foot, was traded by Cavaliers to the Magic, then waived by Orlando.
Seven months later, the Nets recruited him, on the advice of assistant coach Bret Brielmaier who had worked with Harris in Cleveland, and signed him to a two-year, $2.5 million deal. Last July, the Nets and Harris agreed to another two-year deal, this one for $16 million. This season, he’s currently second in the NBA in three-point shooting.
One by one, his teammates tweeted out their congratulations...
No one had a better reaction to Joe’s win than RHJ @IAmCHAP24 got us dying pic.twitter.com/4pn5i56yyp
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 17, 2019
Why I’m so pumped... The @NBA didn’t even want to put him in the contest.... he was the last one in... and beat EVERYBODY... Way to represent Brooklyn JOOOOEEEEEYYYY....
— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) February 17, 2019
I told you Mr. Silver!!!!!! Congrats @joeharrisbball https://t.co/FLTupawoTd
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) February 17, 2019
JoeyBUCKETS!!!!!!!! Shooooottteeeerrrr!!!!!! https://t.co/Y1FzKRACfn
— Theo pinson (@tpinsonn) February 17, 2019
I callled ittttttttttt joeyyyyyy buckets enoughhhhh said
— R.HollisJefferson (@IAmCHAP24) February 17, 2019
Sheeeeeeeesh, Joey BUCKETS
— Dzanan Musa (@DzMusa) February 17, 2019
- Nets’ Joe Harris shocks Warriors’ Stephen Curry for 3-point title - AP
- Nets’ Joe Harris wins three-point shooting contest - Barbara Barker - Newsday
- Nets’ Joe Harris becoming an NBA big shot - Barbara Barker - Newsday
- Nets’ Joe Harris stuns Steph Curry to win 3-point contest - New York Daily News
- Joe Harris is the Nets’ secret weapon - Kyle Wagner - New York Daily News
- JOE HARRIS: THREE-POINT CONTEST WINNER - Brooklyn Nets
- GALLERY: HARRIS MTN DEW 3-POINT CONTEST - Brooklyn Nets