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Young Finishes Fourth at Three-Point Contest

Despite a late rally that brought him to the brink of advancing to the championship, Nick Young came up just short in the opening round of the 2017 Three-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend.

A top-15 shooter in terms of both made 3-pointers and 3-point percentage this season, Young found his rhythm late, hitting four-of-five on his fifth and final rack to end with a total score of 18.

However, only the top three performers advanced to the finals, leaving Young and reigning winner Klay Thompson (who also hit 18) barely left outside.

“It’s a lot more pressure than people notice,” Young said. “You’re out there by yourself. The world’s watching. There are a lot of people depending on you. Once you get out there, you forget about all that.”

Eventual champion Eric Gordon had 25 in the first round, while Kyrie Irving finished with 20. But it was Kemba Walker’s 19 that left Young one bucket shy of potentially making it through to the end at New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center.

Young jokingly deflected some of the blame to teammate Jordan Clarkson, whom Young said had convinced him to move his money ball rack — worth double the points — from one of the corners to the top of the arc.

“I should have stuck with my first plan, but I had too many people in my ear,” Young said, laughing. “… It was Clarkson, man. I knew I should have never listened to him.”

Young acknowledged being nervous in his first Three-Point Contest. Now that he has gotten his debut out of the way, he is already beginning his campaign to return for next year’s competition in Los Angeles.

“I’ve gotta come back,” Young said. “I didn’t even get a chance to celebrate. They need me back.”

Young said that he enjoyed the contest and festivities that went along with his first All-Star Weekend appearance. He brought his son, Nick Jr., along, but wasn’t quite ready to explain his performance to “Lil’ Swaggy.”

“I didn’t want to look him in his face yet, man,” Young laughed. “I didn’t want to see the disappointment.”