NEW ORLEANS - Jason Kapono kidded on Friday that he was bringing the 3-point Shootout to new heights with his presence.
"It's because of me," the Raptors sniper declared. "Really, it took off last year. I've got a lot of people over here around my table, the media coverage has been significant, so obviously, I should be in it every year."
There were only a few people who stopped by his media table, including some overzealous TV reporter from Japan, but Kapono had fun with him and this whole event, mingling with fans in relative anonymity when he wasn't tending to his NBA responsibilities.
When he and his wife walked out of a New Orleans restaurant a few hours before the 3-point shootout, no one mobbed him. Only a few people probably even realized who he was.
"I'm never going to get past that point," Kapono said over being the least-known name invited to this year's event, "but I've come to terms with it."
The way he caught fire on Saturday night, winning his second consecutive shootout title, he looks well on his way to getting his wish of being in this every year.
Kapono knocked down 10 consecutive shots and wound up hitting 17 of his last 20 to tie Craig Hodges' event record of 25 set back in 1986.
His wasn't the only record set on an All-Star Saturday night. Here are my highlights:
- Deron Williams continues his assault on the coaches and media who left him out of Sunday's All-Star Game, excelling wherever he can since the snub. He shut down Chris Paul in an individual matchup shortly after the reserves were announced and took him out in the Skills competition tonight, setting a new record by completing the obstacle course of making a layup, dribbling through four posts, throwing a bounce pass, hitting a jumper, throwing an outlet pass and finishing with a layup in 25.5 seconds, a new record.
- That took me longer than 25.5 seconds to write. An impressed Mike Freeman said, it would take me eight minutes to do all that. I'll take the over.
- Jason Kidd was grooving along nicely until being foiled by his lack of a reliable jumper, missing three times before just giving up and moving on to the outlet pass. Dwyane Wade's event went the way his season has -- he missed a couple layups and ended up finishing in 53.9 seconds, surrendering his title.
- It also looked like David Robinson was still in shape to play. He's a little bigger in the middle, but looked to be more ready to contribute than many big men cashing pay checks. At the very least, the Spurs can sign him to a deal and trot him out there for long buzzer-beaters. He made up for missing about seven straight short bank shots by drilling a halfcourt shot on his first attempt to help San Antonio's entry claim the Shooting Stars event.
- Dwight Howard supplied the "haven't seen that before element" that keeps so many "superstars" from competitng in this thing with his inventive dunks, but he wasn't alone. Loved Gerald Green blowing out a candle and Jamario Moon attempting the impossible by trying to finish an alley oop after taking off from behind the 3-point line. Effort, people. Not everything has been done.
Saturday night proved the dunk contest can still be entertaining. At the very least, this night puts baseball's Home Run Derby to shame.
