The Miami Heat have a history of elite 3-point shooting moments. Ray Allen's corner 3 in the 2013 Finals is arguably the biggest shot in the NBA's history. In the mid-2010s, the Heat were among the first teams to run a small-ball lineup with heavy 3-point shooting.
Miami's history of 3-point shooting extends to All-Star weekend, as they've crowned four champions at the 3-point shootout event. They're tied with the most winners (Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls). Tyler Herro has a chance to join this fiery group in the 2025 contest, but let's pay homage to the big four who snatched the sniper crown before him.
1995 Glen Rice (17 points in the final round)
Times have changed, as a 17-point performance in the 3-point contest wouldn't be enough to sneak out with a win today. That goes to show the evolution of the game. If Glen Rice played in a 3-point era like today, he would've emphasized the outside shot even more.
Rice was one of the premier shooters of the 90s and knocked out the shooter of that time, Reggie Miller, to win this contest. Rice was the original Heat star-- the first player to average 20 points for the franchise and the first to win the 3-point shootout.
The "who'd be better today" question is pondered upon for guys like Rice. He shot about seven 3s a game a few times in the 90's. In today's game, he'd be around eight or nine a game year after year. His pretty stroke went on to help the Lakers win a title during the Shaq and Kobe era. You could always depend on Rice's shot.
2007 Jason Kapono (24 points in the final round)
You could certainly depend on Jason Kapono's shot, especially in the 3-point shootout. Kapono was king in back-to-back seasons, though the 2008 3-point championship occurred as he was a Toronto Raptor.
Kapono set a then-record of 24 points in the championship round in 2007, surpassing Mark Price's previous record of 23. Kapono knocked out NBA superstars like Dirk Nowitzki and Gilbert Arenas.
Dirk was going for back-to-back 3-point contest wins, but Kapono stopped him in his tracks. Kapono wasn't an All-NBA player like his competition, but he showed up when it mattered in Las Vegas, Nevada. No Vegas luck was involved, as Kapono doubled down and won again the next year.
2009 Daequan Cook (19 points in the final round)
Jason Kapono was going for his third straight win but ran into a Miami Heat sniper. Daequan Cook knocked out Rashard Lewis in the Finals and Kapono in the earlier round. It was cool to see Band-Aid Wade supporting Cook on the sideline.
Cook wouldn't be denied and didn't let Wade down. He didn't need much, as Lewis only netted seven 3s in his last go-around—Cook obliterated that score.
Overall, this was the highest volume from 3 of Cook's career. He shot 5.3 3s a game, knocking them down at a 39% clip. Dwade needed all the floor spacing he could get in his near MVP season, and Cook provided that flaming rims and played 24 minutes a game. He appeared in a career-high 75 games. 2009 was the pinnacle of the Ohio State sharpshooters' NBA career. Cook drilled a career-high 153 3s and walked away with the 3-point shootout crown.
2011 James Jones (20 points in the final round)
James Jones is the most recent Heat player to win the shootout, and his victory might be the most satisfying. He stuck it to then-Boston Celtic Ray Allen and his teammate Paul Pierce. Jones caught fire in the finals round, and no one in green could put it out.
As a standstill shooter, Jones has a case to make as one of the best deep-range Heat shooters. He didn't have the volume of a Herro or Duncan Robinson, but his sky-high efficiency makes his standstill shooter case-worthy (41% from 3 as a Heat).
Tyler Herro could join this list in his second chance. This time around is different because he's entering the shootout with the All-Star boost. His mind should be free, as the shootout will be his second most important weekend event behind the prestigious All-Star game. Herro is up against some strong competition, as Damian Lillard aims to do what the Kanas City Chiefs couldn't-- complete the three-peat.