The 2022 NBA All-Star festivities are officially underway with the Rising Stars Challenge, but the real excitement begins on Saturday night. Among the three events, the Mountain Dew 3-Point Contest will take place, with a number of intriguing participants who can really make it rain.

Mountain Dew 3-Point Contest Info, Participants, Format, Preview

The 3-Point Contest will begin at 8 PM EST at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and can be seen on TNT. Here is the full participant list:

As for the format for the 3-Point Contest, each player will have 70 seconds to drain a maximum of 27 shots. There will be a money ball at each rack as always which is worth two points. Also, one rack will be full of money balls. Essentially, the top-three shooters with the highest scores will advance to the championship round. There will be a Mountain Dew Zone on each wing with a ball worth three points apiece as well.

Zach LaVine

LaVine is enjoying a fine campaign for the surging Bulls, averaging 24.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He's also been extremely efficient from long range, draining 40% of his 7.2 three-point attempts per night. LaVine can get hot in a heartbeat and should definitely be considered a contender here. However, he is currently battling minor knee soreness.

Fred VanVleet

VanVleet is carrying the Raptors this season and was also named an All-Star for the first time. The guard is a lethal threat from downtown. He's in the 3-Point Contest because he's shooting 40% from beyond the arc on a career-high 10 attempts per contest. He's defied the odds for his entire life, don't sleep on VanVleet this time around, either.

Luke Kennard

Kennard is the second-best three-point shooter in the Association in 2021/22, sinking 44.8% of his treys. That's an extremely impressive clip so it's no surprise he's partaking in the 3-Point Contest. He's one of the lower-profile names on the list, but Kennard is capable.

Patty Mills

The veteran of the group, Mills is proving to be a huge piece for the Brooklyn Nets. He's posted a 42% clip from beyond the arc and has been able to get a lot of good looks with his new team. The Aussie is well known for his shooting. This is his time to shine.

Trae Young

Young does so much for the Atlanta Hawks, but after all, he came into the league as a lights-out three-point shooter. Trae enters the 3-Point Contest with a 38% clip on the year while taking 7.8 attempts. He's also a starter in the All-Star Game amid a ridiculous campaign.

Desmond Bane

Bane is one of the most intriguing participants. He's been one of Ja Morant's legitimate running mates this season for the Grizzlies, averaging 17.5 points per night on a sharp 42% clip from three-point land. He's had some very big performances in 2021/22 and has the ability to make it rain. Keep an eye on the second-year guard.

Karl-Anthony Towns

KAT is the lone center in the 3-Point Contest. He's arguably one of the best shooting bigs to ever play the game, draining 41% of his triples this season on just over six attempts. While he may not shoot it as much as others in the competition, Towns is capable of making some noise.

CJ McCollum

McCollum just joined the New Orleans Pelicans and is already averaging almost 30 points per game in five appearances. While he's shooting 38% on the season, CJ is converting on 43% of his threes since arriving in NOLA. One of the more experienced players in the 3-Point Contest, he could very well take it home.