The Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu 3-point shooting contest — the most interesting part of an otherwise dreadfully boring All-Star weekend this year — is expected to make its return next year when the annual basketball festivities make their way to the Golden State Warriors’ home court.
Shams Charania reported Tuesday that widely praised contest is “very likely for next year,” with the competition expanding into a duos duel featuring the biggest star in college basketball, who is set to enter the WNBA in a few weeks, and Curry’s longtime shooting partner.
“Next year’s All-Star weekend, guys, it’s going to be in the Bay Area, in San Francisco at Chase Center in 2025,” Charania said. “And I’m told with Caitlin Clark, and potentially Klay Thompson to make it two-v-two. Stephen Curry is Klay Thompson’s Splash Brother. I’m told Steph Curry has specifically brought up having Klay Thompson in this competition next year.”
But even with the reported fact that Curry specifically requested Thompson, Charania still suggested another sharpshooter Curry could compete with.
“Could a guy like Damian Lillard be a candidate as well to join Steph Curry?” he suggested, before adding these conversations are ongoing.
The Curry-Ionescu 3-point battle was an unbridled success, with the Warriors star narrowly beating the New York Liberty star, 29-26. Adding the most famous women’s basketball player in the country to the fray would bring the hype for this contest to extraordinary levels. Obviously the name recognition would attract interest, but Clark’s shooting for Iowa this season has been frequently compared to Curry’s peak, a compliment that actually undersells just how talented she is. Ionescu, who was born in Walnut Creek, is also one of the WNBA’s best 3-point shooters and had a stellar college career herself.
A Curry-Thompson pairing would certainly have their work cut out for them. While there might be some concern for Thompson’s potential performance given the decline he’s suffered lately, the less-than-stellar numbers over the past couple seasons have come against actual defenders. It’d be safe to assume that one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history could do well in a contest of unguarded shoots. The real question is whether he’ll even still be Curry’s partner on Golden State next season, as Thompson and the team have yet to figure out a new contract.
While the Lillard mention does seem kind of far-fetched in the context of this competition, it at least makes sense in the context of a Bay Area All-Star weekend given that the Bucks guard is a proud Oakland native. That being said, it’d be hard to overcome the Thompson-shaped hole during the event if anyone took his place next to Curry.
As Charania mentioned, organizers are still hammering out the details on this star-studded event. Hopefully by the time the 2025 break rolls around, not only will the competition be official, but the question of whether Curry’s fellow Splash Brother will still be able to call Chase Center home will be answered — with Dubs fans everywhere hoping the answer is a resounding “yes.”
