After the question, Nate McMillan paused in contemplation.

His eyebrows furrowed.

The Sonics' coach sighed.

McMillan was asked who ? among his four best shooters ? would win a three-point contest by showing the most accuracy after 25 shots.

Just as McMillan appeared to lean toward a player, he reconsidered, paused again, and acted like it was his final answer of a quiz show.

"I couldn't say," McMillan finally said.

With three Sonics among the NBA leaders in three-point accuracy last season, McMillan being stumped is understandable.

And now, the Sonics have added rookie Vladimir Radmanovic to the group of Brent Barry, Rashard Lewis and Shammond Williams.

Radmanovic has the fifth-best accuracy in the NBA in three-point accuracy at 47.7 percent.

"I think all four of them are very similar where they can get on a roll," said McMillan, whose team shoots 38.8 percent from three-point range, among the best in the NBA. "They can knock down shots consistently. I think they all are right there."

Seattle's long-range prowess has been crucial to the team's success this season. At 6-feet-4, Gary Payton is the team's best low-post scorer, with 6-10 Vin Baker not far behind.

Baker's success in the paint is important to Seattle's outside shooting, because double coverage on the power forward allows teammates to receive open shots.

"With Vin in the post," Lewis said, "it just opens up things for all of us."

Although McMillan was undecided on which Sonics would win a shooting contest, Barry was a unanimous choice in an informal poll of Sonics players (who had to choose someone other than themselves).

"I never see him miss," Baker said. "It's a fun feeling to watch when he releases it. There's not too many times in a game when I don't think it's going in."

McMillan publicly lobbied for Radmanovic to be included in the NBA's three-point shooting contest on Feb. 9, which is part of the All-Star festivities.

When the participants were named yesterday, no Sonics players were included. But that omission is only because Barry declined an invitation so he could relax with his family at their offseason home in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Radmanovic's shooting was only one skill that enticed the Sonics before they selected him No. 12 overall in last year's draft. But at this stage in Radmanovic's career, his accuracy stands out more than anything else.

The rookie has to be a great shooter simply to be compared with teammates such as Barry, Lewis and Williams.

Last season, Barry led the NBA in three-point shooting at 48 percent, while Williams (46 percent) and Lewis (43 percent) weren't far behind.

One reason that Radmanovic's accuracy has been better than teammates is because he's a rookie.

Opponents aren't likely to respect Radmanovic's shooting because he's unproven. But that will change if his shooting stays on the money.

When Radmanovic was asked if he was the best shooter on the team, the rookie appeared uncomfortable answering.

"This team has lots of great shooters," he said.

But not ruling himself out revealed Radmanovic's confidence.

The question was altered so McMillan would come up with a name: If the coach had to bet on one shooter, who would it be?

Finally, McMillan agreed with his players: Barry is the best among a team of sweet shooters.

"I think Brent's release is more fluid," McMillan said. "It just looks so easy for him."