Bulls’ Watson hoping for 3-point contest invite

As of Thursday morning, Bulls guard C.J. Watson ranked sixth in the league in 3-point shooting percentage at .466.

Rather than sit around hoping to get an invite to the 3-point shootout during NBA All-Star Weekend, Watson decided to talk about how much he’d like to be in the shooting rotation Feb. 25 in Orlando.

“It’s just something that would an honor and a privilege to do,” Watson said in a phone interview. “I’ve been shooting the ball pretty well and the thought just come up with one of my friends. I’ve been going with it. If it happens, it happens.”

Before this season, Watson’s personal best in 3-point percentage was an even .400 in 2008-09 when he played for Golden State.

Trying to figure out how the NBA goes about choosing the 3-point contest participants is a challenge. The Bulls have had four winners in the past — Craig Hodges three times and Steve Kerr in 1997 — but they haven’t had anyone in the shootout since Kerr left town.

Last year, Miami’s James Jones won the title over Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Durant, Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson and Golden State’s Dorell Wright.

“I always watch it every year,” said Watson, who listed Allen as his 3-point role model. “It’s always fun to watch the people that are in it. I always said, if I could ever be in the spot to compete in a contest like that, it would be fun.”

The current NBA leaders in 3-point percentage are Golden State’s Brandon Rush, Allen, Miami’s Mike Miller, New York’s Steve Novak and Clippers guard Chris Paul.

At 56.9 percent, Rush is on pace to break Kyle Korver’s single-season percentage mark of .536, set two years ago in Utah.

But volume often seems to carry more weight than accuracy when it comes to being chosen for the 3-point contest. If the league looked at the players at the top of the league in 3-pointers made, who also shoot better than 40 percent, the lineup would include Orlando’s Ryan Anderson, New Jersey’s Anthony Morrow, San Antonio’s Richard Jefferson, Philadelphia’s Jodie Meeks and Miami’s Mario Chalmers. Korver ranks seventh on that list.

Of last year’s participants, Durant and Wright are both shooting well below 40 percent. Jones, the defending champ, is at .442, but has lost most of his playing time to Shane Battier. Jones is tied for 96th in 3-pointers made.

Korver has also never been in the 3-point contest.