Damian Lillard reflects on his legacy after the game-winning 3-pointer

ByNBAUSA



Damian Lillard won another trophy at the Intuit Dome on Saturday night and cemented his place among the greatest scorers to ever touch a basketball.

Winning his third title in the 3-point competition, the Portland Trail Blazers star he joined NBA legends Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players to win the tournament three times. For Lillard, however, the achievement isn’t about a singular moment of brilliance, but rather the ability to stay atop the mountain for more than a decade.

“I think I had a lot of moments,” Lillard said after the win. “The biggest thing that defines a legacy is not being great in an instant, but being able to sustain it for more than a decade.”

The victory was especially touching given Lillard’s current situation. He hasn’t played a single minute for the Trail Blazers this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the 2025 playoffs. Despite the rust, Lillard looked extremely comfortable under the bright lights of Los Angeles. After scoring 27 points in the first round, he made it to the finals.

Lillard scored 29 in the final round, putting pressure on Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knuepel. Booker, a former champion himself, put on a clinic at the start of the final round, hitting nine shots in a row.

However, with the title on the line, Booker missed his last three ‘money ball’ tries with 27 points. Knuppel, a high-flying rookie, finished third with 15 points.

Lillard’s third crown, adding to his victories in 2023 and 2024, serves as a reminder of his enduring greatness. While he remains sidelined until the end of the regular season, “Dame Time” proved he still has plenty of battery left.





2026-02-15 05:10:00

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