Can you believe this nonsense? The Boston Celtics, the reigning kings of the three-point revolution, just got straight-up robbed of their rightful spot in the 2026 NBA Three-Point Contest. Under head coach Joe Mazzulla, these guys have turned bombing from deep into an art form, launching their way to a championship in 2024 and keeping the pedal to the metal ever since. They’re second in the league in threes made and attempted—trailing only the Warriors—and yet, when the eight contestants were unveiled on Sunday, not a single Celtic made the cut. Zero. Zilch. Nada. This isn’t just a snub; it’s a full-blown conspiracy against one of the NBA’s most dominant squads.
Let’s break it down, because the stats don’t lie. Boston boasts six players who’ve drained threes at better than 37.5% this season. Sure, Josh Minott and Anfernee Simons got shipped out in trades, but that still leaves four elite sharpshooters who should’ve been locks for the event. We’re talking Jordan Walsh at 37.8% on 1.7 attempts per game, Sam Hauser splashing 38.8% on a whopping 6.6 bombs a night, Baylor Scheierman at 39.4% on 2.2 tries, and big man Luka Garza lighting it up at an insane 43.8% on 1.7 shots. These dudes are money from downtown, helping propel the Celtics to a stellar 34-19 record—tied for third-best in the league—and yet the NBA turns a blind eye? Come on!
And don’t even get me started on the other Celtics gunners who are high-volume threats, even if their percentages are a tad off this year. Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Jaylen Brown are all capable of catching fire and burying defenses under an avalanche of triples. This team lives and dies by the three, winning the math game night after night and creating massive edges at the arc. But apparently, that’s not good enough for the league’s brass.
Instead, who do they roll out? Star power over substance, folks. Devin Booker, slumping at a dismal 30.7% from deep this season, gets the nod. And Damian Lillard? The guy’s hasn’t even suited up for a single game! But hey, big names sell tickets, right? The NBA’s clearly prioritizing flash and fame over actual shooting prowess, turning one of their marquee All-Star Weekend events into a popularity contest. It’s rigged, plain and simple—the fix is in, and Boston’s on the outside looking in.
This isn’t some fresh outrage; it’s par for the course with these Celtics. They’ve been doubted, dismissed, and disrespected since before the season tipped off. Pundits wrote them off despite the roster tweaks, but here they are, thriving and proving everyone wrong. Yet the narrative refuses to budge. No respect from the media, no love from the league—it’s like Boston’s success is an inconvenient truth.
Look, missing the three-point contest isn’t the end of the world. These players get some much-needed R&R during the All-Star break, a full week to recharge. But let’s call it what it is: bulletin board gold. Mazzulla’s crew thrives on that underdog fire, and you better believe this snub will light a match under them. With the team in a mini-shooting slump lately, this could be the spark they need to explode out of the gates post-break. Watch out, NBA—the Celtics are coming back hotter than ever, ready to shove those threes down everyone’s throats and silence the doubters once and for all.
The disrespect is real, but so is Boston’s resolve. This isn’t just a team; it’s a movement. And if the league won’t give them the stage, they’ll build their own—with rings as the ultimate trophy.