The Cleveland Cavaliers had the opportunity to have more than one representative in the three-point contest.
Several months ago, Donovan Mitchell advocated for his teammate, Sam Merrill, to receive an invitation to the event.
Unfortunately, Merrill did not receive the invitation, prompting Mitchell to take matters into his own hands.
Mitchell participated in the event while still showing support for his teammate.
He wore a Cavaliers jersey with the number 5, displaying the name ‘Money Merrill’ as a tribute to the four-year professional basketball player (Via ESPN Cleveland).
Regrettably, the jersey did not bring him much luck, as Mitchell was eliminated in the first round after scoring only 21 points.
Merrill may not be widely recognized in the league, but he could have certainly made a strong case for himself in the three-point shootout.
He has a career shooting percentage of 42.1% from beyond the arc, and this season he is shooting 44.2% from three-point range.
Merrill has appeared in 37 games for J.B. Bickerstaff’s team this season, averaging 8.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and making 2-4 three-pointers per game.
The Cavaliers have been one of the most surprising teams in the league this season, with a 36-17 record, which is the second-best in the Eastern Conference.
Despite the absence of Evan Mobley and Darius Garland for a significant portion of the season, they have managed to win many games they were expected to lose.
Now, they appear to be a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference and may even challenge the top contenders. Who knows? Perhaps Merrill will make some crucial shots in the playoffs.
According to the Source thecoldwire.com