Damian Lillard in the 3-point contest despite not playing this season
Portland Trail The Blazers will have Danny Avdi representing the team as an All-Star this season, but he won’t be the only player on the team to join him in the festivities over the weekend. Competition for 3 points the participants were announcedand to the surprise of many, Damian Lillard will compete, says Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.
“Damian Lillard, recovering from a torn Achilles, will participate in the 3-point contest in a week,” Siegel wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Lillard is no stranger to 3-point contests, as he has participated in five of them. He won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, and this time he will try to win his third.
Throughout his career, Lillard was known as one of the best three-point shooters in the league and one of the best long-range shooters alongside Stephen Curry. There is no doubt that he will give his all in this contest, and the players may be more motivated to win now that Lillard is in it.
Lillard tore his Achilles tendon last season in the playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks and has been on the mend ever since. During the offseason, he was waived and stretched by the Bucks, leading to his return to the Trail Blazers, where he began his NBA career beloved by the city.
There’s a good chance Lillard will be back to full health next season for the Trail Blazers. As of now, they are doing what they can with what they have, and are currently ninth in the Western Conference.
If they are able to compete in the Play-Ins, it would be a big step up from where they have been for the past few seasons, as they have played well enough this year to do so.
2026-02-08 20:16:00
