NBA All-Star Weekend: James Jones, Mario Chalmers, And Ryan Anderson To Participate In Three-Point Contest

The NBA has announced the participants of the NBA 3-point contest that will take place during All-Star weekend in Orlando, and it includes three members of Florida teams. The Miami Heat will send defending champion James Jones and Mario Chalmers while Ryan Anderson will represent the hometown Magic.

If Jones hadn't won the title last year, he probably wouldn't have been invited back to participate again this year. He is only playing about 11 minutes per game on the Heat this year and his perimeter shooting is down to just about 40%. But anything can happen at the three-point shootout, so maybe he'll catch fire again and repeat.

Chalmers is one of the more questionable inclusions in the field this year. He is shooting a very respectable 46% from beyond the arc this year, but he doesn't have the reputation of a pure shooter like the players that are normally involved in this contest. Is he a better shooter than Jason Kapono, Kyle Korver and Ray Allen? No. Maybe this is part of the LeBron James and Dwyane Wade effect.

Anderson is having a breakout year for the magic and was as hot from beyond the arc in the beginning of the season as anybody. He is shooting just 43% from the arc now, but his inclusion does provide a little bit of variety into the contest because he is much taller than the other contestants, and sometimes those guys have better success in these contests. It doesn't hurt that he plays for the hometown Magic.

For more on James Jones' quest to repeat please head over to our Miami Heat blog Peninsula is Mightier. Our Orlando Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post will have more on Ryan Anderson's quest for his first three-point title.