(FEBRUARY 6, 2008) -- Toronto Raptors forward Jason Kapono was selected by the NBA to defend his title in the 2008 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout as part of All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. Other players selected to compete in the event were Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Daniel Gibson (Cleveland), Steve Nash (Phoenix) Richard Hamilton (Detroit) and Peja Stojakovic (New Orleans).
Through 50 games this season, Kapono leads the NBA with a .510 (50-for-98) three-point shooting percentage. He also ranks first in NBA history with a .467 (280-for-599) three-point shooting percentage among players with a minimum of 250 three-pointers. Kapono won the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout last season as a member of the Miami Heat and tallied 24 points during the final round to set an event record.
Kapono will become the second player from Toronto to compete in the event. Walt Williams participated in the 1997 three-point shootout and finished fourth. Kapono will attempt to become the first back-to-back champion since Stojakovic accomplished the feat in 2002 and 2003.
The players will compete in the two-round competition with the top three finishers from the first round advancing to the finals. Five shooting stations will be set up around the three-point line, with four Official Spalding NBA game balls worth one point each and one Spalding NBA All-Star 2008 commemorative teal and gold coloured “money ball” worth two points at each location. Each player will have one minute to shoot as many balls as he can. In the final round, players will shoot in ascending order of first-round scores. At the discretion of the referee, television instant replay may be consulted for clarification of rules compliance.
As with all of this year's All-Star participants, Bryant, Gibson, Hamilton, Kapono, Stojakovic and Nash will join over 2,500 members of the NBA Family for the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service on Friday, Feb. 15. The volunteers will participate in a variety of service projects at 10 different sites throughout New Orleans.
In addition, Foot Locker will be working with the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) to refurbish Stallings Gentilly Park in association with NBA Cares. The official court dedication to the New Orleans community will take place on Saturday, Feb. 16.
The Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout will be televised live nationally as part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night, which will also feature the Haier Shooting Stars, Sprite Slam Dunk and PlayStation® Skills Challenge. TSN will carry the TNT broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. ET from New Orleans Arena. The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 17, will air live on The Score and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide on TNT.
