Klay Thompson thinks Buddy Hield or Dirk Nowitzki will win the three-point contest

Perhaps the former winner is trying to give his fellow Splash Brother some bulletin board material.

Klay Thompson will almost surely be rooting for his Golden State Warriors teammate Steph Curry during Saturday’s three-point contest. But that doesn’t mean he expects his fellow Splash Brother to win.

At an NBA Cares event on Friday, Thompson took a break from doing some construction to give his thoughts on Saturday’s shooting contest, an event that Klay has competed in four times, and won once. But when asked for a prediction, Thompson gave a surprising answer. He initially said he thought Buddy Hield of the Sacramento Kings would win, but then added that if he were a betting man he’d go for Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki.

Thompson said he expected Curry to have some nerves playing in his hometown of Charlotte, adding that “I was [nervous] in LA,” a reference to Klay competing in the event a year ago in his home.-

Hield is a strong bet, as he is fourth in the league in both threes made and three-point percentage, which is highly impressive. And while Nowitzki is a sentimental choice - the 21-year vet is likely playing in his final season - Dirk did win the event 13 years ago.

Still, my money’s on Steph.