Damian Lillard Joins 8-Player Field for NBA 3-Point Contest in Inglewood

Two-time champion Damian Lillard will compete in the NBA 3-point contest despite having not played this season due to a torn Achilles tendon.

Damian Lillard will headline an eight-player field for the NBA 3-point contest on All-Star Saturday, marking his first competitive appearance since suffering a torn Achilles tendon last spring. The two-time champion, who has not recorded a minute of play this season, joins a roster of shooters that includes 2018 winner Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. The Damian Lillard 3-point contest return is set to take place at the home of the LA Clippers in Inglewood, California. Lillard enters the competition with the opportunity to become just the third player in league history to win the event three times, potentially joining Larry Bird and Craig Hodges in that exclusive category.

The NBA confirmed the full participant list consists of Charlotte's Kon Knueppel, Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey, Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell, and Denver's Jamal Murray. Rounding out the group are Milwaukee's Bobby Portis Jr. and Miami's Norman Powell. Notably absent from the lineup is last year’s winner, Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat, who has missed the majority of the current season due to various injuries. Lillard previously secured back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 before Herro took the crown last year.

All-Star Saturday Schedule and Format Changes

In a departure from previous years, the 3-point contest will serve as the opening event for All-Star Saturday. The evening’s itinerary will then proceed to the Shooting Stars competition, followed by the dunk contest as the finale. League officials have removed the skills competition from the schedule for this year's festivities. This structural shift places the long-distance shooting exhibition at the forefront of the night's entertainment in Inglewood.

Lillard’s participation is historically unique, as he has not made a single three-pointer during the current regular season. The NBA has only seen a similar situation once before in 1989, when the league invited Rimas Kurtinaitis of Lithuania to compete. Unlike Lillard, Kurtinaitis never played a game in the NBA. Lillard’s appearance will represent his first time shooting in front of a live crowd since rejoining the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this season.

Lillard’s Path Back to Portland

The veteran guard was originally the sixth overall pick by the Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA draft. He spent 11 seasons in Portland before a trade sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks just prior to the 2023-24 campaign. During his tenure in Milwaukee, Lillard suffered the Achilles injury that has sidelined him for his entire second stint with his original club. Following the injury, the Bucks opted to waive and stretch the remaining $113 million on his contract, which allowed him to enter free agency and subsequently re-sign with Portland.

Because Lillard has been in recovery since the spring, this contest serves as a high-profile return to the hardwood. He will be wearing his Portland uniform for the event, a move described as unexpected given his ongoing rehabilitation process. The competition field features a mix of former champions and first-time participants representing eight different franchises across the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Historical Context and Competitive Field

The quest for a third trophy places Lillard in a position to match records that have stood for decades. Devin Booker remains the only other past champion in this year's field, having won the title six years ago. The inclusion of players like Tyrese Maxey and Donovan Mitchell brings high-scoring guards into the mix, while Jamal Murray and Norman Powell represent veteran shooting threats from contending teams. Kon Knueppel and Bobby Portis Jr. provide additional variety to a lineup that lacks its defending champion, Herro.

All eyes will be on the Inglewood venue to see if Lillard’s lack of game rhythm affects his performance. His status as a free agent signing for Portland, following the Milwaukee contract stretch, adds a layer of business intrigue to his on-court return. The event marks a significant milestone in his recovery timeline, providing a platform to showcase his shooting touch before he returns to regular season action for the Trail Blazers.