Why Yuta Watanabe is the 2023 NBA All-St

If you saw the roster for the 3-point contest at the 2023 NBA All-Star weekend and started scratching your head, join the club.The NBA announced the eight participants on Tuesday morning and we've got some serious questions. For starers,none of the league's 10 best shooters by percentage, , will be participating. That's Robert Rochell Jersey strangely bizarre given not only the history of the competition which has featured the likes of Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr, but also given the general rise of the 3-pointer as an e sential, in-demand skill.So yes, there were many players that did not make the cut who perhaps should have. Neither of the Splash Brothers are participating despite . Isaiah Joe, Malcolm Brogdon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Luka Kennard are all threatening to shoot 45% from deep yet absent.But there was no bigger snub than Yuta Watanabe, who had been Darrell Henderson Jr. Jersey leading the league with a scorchingly-hot 48.1 percent from 3 this season. Name3-point percentageJayson Tatum35.3%Tyler Herro36.9%Damian Lillard37.5%Anfernee Simons38.1%Kevin Huerter39.0%Tyrese Haliburton39.8%Lauri Markkanen41.2%Buddy Hield42.3% The league doesn't disclose what its criteria is for inviting participants, but it seems as if they chose based on reputation and star power rather than how well players have shot the ball this season.For example, Tatum is shooting below the 35.9 percent league-average mark but was still extended an NFL Los Angeles Rams Jersey invite. His percentage is no. 102 in the league. Herro is the no. 77 shooter by 3-point percentage in the league, .Watanabe was ultimately not extended the invite, perhaps in part to his low volume of shots. He's only taken 108 3-pointers on the season. Hield (530), Simons (512), Tatum (502), and Lillard (496) are all in the top four in attempts. Despite not taking many 3-pointers, Watanabe still had a very good case for being extended an invite.Watanabe's 48.1 percent shooting at the All-Star break was by far the highest mark in the league of anyone with at least 100 attempts. It's also higher than last year's league leader, Luke Kennard at 44.9 percent.Watanabe has had a historic shooting season thus far. His percentage is the 19th-highest in NBA history among players with at least 108 attempts, .He is even better at catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. His 49.0 percent is the best mark in the league, .If he qualifies, he's got a decent chance to become just the to make at least half for an entire season. that "it would be an honor" to participate. Unfortunately, he won't get to experience Jalen Ramsey T Shirts that honor. Fans in the U.S. can watch this year's All-Star events on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Stream Sling Orange for $20 in your first month to catch all regular season games on TNT, ESPN ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.SIGN UP FOR SLING: |Friday, Feb. 17Celebrity Game (7 p.m. ET)Rising Stars Challenge (9 p.m. ET)Saturday, Feb. 18HBCU Cla sic (4 p.m. ET)Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest (8 p.m. ET)Sunday, Feb. 192023 Los Angeles Rams T Shirts NBA All-Star Game (8 p.m. ET)