The expression “Battle of the sexes”, this time, it is at the expense of the media. The show was presented in a much more natural and simple way: “Stephen vs. “Sabrina.” Because there are no resentments or pending disputes behind it. Yes, an intention to recognize each other and close distances in search of equality. The NBA took the best shooter in history among men, Curry (35 years old), and perhaps the best shooter of all time among women, Ionescu (26), and united them in a novel three-point shooting contest during the 73rd edition of the All Star Game, in Indianapolis. The result was a formidable spectacle in which two brilliant basketball players lived up to what was expected and a little beyond.
There was none of that tension with which the duel between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King in tennis, in the 70s. Another sport… but, fundamentally, another society, another time.
Sabrina Ionescu made 18 of 27 shots, a brilliant 66%, for a total of 26 points. Stephen Curry finished 21 of 27, with an unusual 77% and 29 points.
Before and after the competition they smiled and hugged each other. They respect and admire each other. Everything happened as if in a perfect world, NBA style. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. “In basketball and in life”was the final message she offered. “I hope we find other things that more people can get involved in”he asked.
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Those shooting practice routines are magnetic. Curry, the most formidable shooter in basketball history, has been the generator of hundreds of viral videos. He can make a hundred three-pointers without missing from a corner. Or score from all positions between the key and the middle of the court, all with an assistant who gives you the balls and without stopping moving. The ball never touches the metal ring that supports the net, it only rests gently on the strings. And again. Now he rehearses one-handed throws, from a corner of the stadium, inside the hallway that leads to the locker room. About seven meters off the court and more than 30 from the rim. And it doesn’t fail. It’s fascinating to see.
Sabrina Ionescu, a New York Liberty player, was enough with just one video to become a legend. In the 2023 WNBA All Star 3-point tournament, she missed the first shot. She later converted 20 in a row and a total of 25 out of 27 for the best performance in the history of basketball (whether among men or women). A pure, simple and repetitive shooting mechanic that makes it admirable and unmatched.
The NBA suggested that everyone play under its rules. Women shoot with a slightly smaller ball (No. 5, 27.5 inches versus the men’s No. 7, 29.5) and from a shorter distance than in the NBA (6.75 meters versus 7.24 in the NBA).
That difference was maintained in terms of balls, but Ionescu did not want to shoot from closer than his rival. She accepted what is for her a disadvantage and launched from the distance of the men.
Origins of grief
There is an image in the Oakland Arena, the stadium where the Warriors played until 2019 (when they moved to the Chase Center in San Francisco), in which Ionescu, at 10 years old, is seen leaning out from the stands to greet Curry. “He was always my idol. I grew up wanting to be like him. At that time I would never have imagined this opportunity,” he admitted. He got it.
On January 26, 2024, the official NBA Twitter account uploaded a video in which Curry talks with his teammates during the warm-up of a game. He asks Brandin Podziemski: “Do you know who has the record in three-point tournaments?” The 20-year-old Warriors rookie answers: “Sabrina?”
The legendary point guard screams and then challenges: “I have to get it out. “We have to resolve this once and for all.”
Ionescu instantly responded to the post and invited Curry: “Let’s do it! See you at the three-point line!”
What seemed like a casual discussion was actually a perfectly designed promotional strategy. Four days later, the NBA announced the contest. It kicked off the new “Battle of the Sexes.”
The differences with that “battle”
Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon champion, was the one who promoted a historic Battle of the Sexes in tennis. The former player – and commentator in the 70s – drew attention for his derogatory comments against the women’s circuit. He called himself the “male chauvinist” and proclaimed: “I want to prove that women are bad at this sport. “They don’t belong on the same field as men.”. She was 55 years old when she promoted several challenges in 1973. First she easily beat (6-1 and 6-2) the Australian Margaret Court (who that same year would win the US Open). But The duel with the then world number 1, Billie Jean King, had more notoriety, who emerged victorious 6-4, 6-3 and 6-3.
That had a very intense social burden, in the midst of the fight for women’s rights. Furthermore, the women’s circuit sought to become professional and found in the dissemination of that duel a launching platform for its promotion.
This time there are no sexist disputes in the middle. Curry and Ionescu have an excellent relationship and the “chicanas” of the duel never traveled paths beyond sports. The challenge had an eminently commercial reason and the show worked as expected.
Curry won, but he had four fewer hits than Ionescu achieved in his best performance a year ago. Her record still belongs to her. None of them have outstanding accounts, of course. But the duel remains open. “She set the bar very high, it was incredible to see her pull it. We have to do it again,” Curry enthused. As long as the show needs it, there will be more performances to capture fans’ interest.
Damian Lillard kept the crown
The show fits him perfectly, he knows how to make the shine stay on the date. That’s why when it was time for the three-point shooting contest, he understood that he had to defend the crown with all his style. He didn’t hesitate and he came out on stage for “Dame Time”. So Damian Lillardone of the stars of the Milwaukee Buckspointed to his wrist like he touched a watch, one of his trademarks, revalidated the crown and was among the most lethal players who participated in the All Star Game.
It was in the last pitch that resolved the story, that seasoning even had its coronation: Lillard shook the net and beat the 24 points – he added 26 – of Trae Young and the 22 of Karl-Anthony Towns in the final stage of the competition. Previously, other title contenders such as Tyrese Haliburton, Lauri Markkanen, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell and Malik Beasley had fallen by the wayside.
Last night Lillard entered the history of the competition, since there are not many who were able to chain victories in the three-point shooting contest: Peja Stojakovic, Jeff Hornacek, Mark Price, Jason Kapono and Stephen Curry. And it will be a question whether next year “Dame Time” will go for a new star, since it could reach the three titles that Larry Bird and Craig Hodges have – they both achieved them consecutively.
Mac McClung, from the G-League to dunk king
Just a year ago the basketball world did not have him on its star map. However, he broke logic when in 2023 he flew above the glitter of the NBA (at that time he was a player in the Sixers affiliate) and was crowned king in the dunk contest. Mac McClungthe base of Osceola Magica subsidiary of Orlando in the Development League, who is barely 1.88 meters tall, reconfirmed that he is the best when it comes to “busting a hoop” with a dunk.
McClung impressed again with four collection actions: in the first, a self-pass in the air, the second changed to a grind to finish in a ‘tomahawk’ and to win the contest he opted for the spectacle of jumping two people and since it was not Enough for him, to close his show, he called up 7-foot-1 Shaquille O’Neal, put an Osceola jersey on him, flew over the giant and got a perfect score.
He beat Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), a star of the League, he took out the Mexican Jaime Jáquez, from the Miami Heat, and also Jacob Toppin, Obi’s brother and Knicks player, without much difficulty in his actions.
McClung said after his consecration: “It was great. Shaq was phenomenal when he put on the jersey, he moved me. The contest asked me to do something and I had to ensure the final”explained Mac McClung, who revalidated his crown, something that had not happened since Zach Lavine in 2015 and 2016.
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