Damian Lillard’s participation in the 3-point contest started as a joke…
Injured and lost for the season, Damian Lillard surprised everyone joining the next competition for 3 points. “I’m healthy enough to do it, but who does it? I’ll do it”explains the Blazers point guard, victim of a ruptured Achilles tendon during the 2025 playoffs. The Athletic.
How did he find himself in this situation? Two weeks ago, the player spoke on the phone with Michael Levine, the NBA’s director of marketing. Then the idea comes up in the discussion.
“It started as a joke. I told him I was going on vacation and if he needed someone, I could compete for 3 points. He told me it would be great and we laughed about it. We left it there”says the two-time winner of Saturday night’s All-Star weekend event, before another phone call a few days later. “He asked me if I was really motivated. I said yes.
He doesn’t examine Jayson Tatum’s journey
So here he is to win a third crown, like Larry Bird etc Craig Hodges before him. In a unique context, since he is still undergoing rehabilitation. What are his deep motivations?
“All-Star Weekend needs stars, people want to see stars compete”insists on “The Ladies” facing Conn Knuepel, Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis Jr. and Norman Powell. This is his first reason. The second is that he wants to rise. “I train, I don’t play, so I need some competition”he continues.
Without finally forgetting his desire not to do anything like others and to follow his own path. “I have to keep doing what Dame does: everything that’s classic, I do the opposite. Here’s another example.”
Could this little bit of competitive excitement encourage him to return this season, especially given the example of Jayson Tatum, who injured his Achilles tendon two weeks after him in the spring of 2025, who now he trains in the G-League and getting closer to the return?
“I’m moving forward at my own pace” he tempers. “If I was 23 or 25, I’d probably be more competitive with what everyone else is doing. But I know where I’m at physically, I feel it. I’m on the court every day and I don’t care what Tatum does. After the season, I’ll spend the summer preparing for next season. I want to make sure I’m 1000% the best by the end of the season and can play the best version of myself every season. I’m not in a rush, especially knowing I have time.
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | BI | 82 | 39 | 42.9 | 36.8 | 84.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 19.0 |
| 2013-14 ☆ | BI | 82 | 36 | 42.4 | 39.4 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 ☆ | BI | 82 | 36 | 43.4 | 34.3 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | BI | 75 | 36 | 41.9 | 37.5 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | BI | 75 | 36 | 44.4 | 37.0 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 ☆ | BI | 73 | 37 | 43.9 | 36.1 | 91.6 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 ☆ | BI | 80 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 91.2 | 0.8 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 ☆ | BI | 66 | 38 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 ☆ | BI | 67 | 36 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 92.8 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 28.8 |
| 2021-22 | BI | 29 | 36 | 40.2 | 32.4 | 87.8 | 0.4 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 24.0 |
| 2022-23 ☆ | BI | 58 | 36 | 46.3 | 37.1 | 91.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 32.2 |
| 2023-24 ☆ | MIL | 73 | 35 | 42.4 | 35.4 | 92.0 | 0.5 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 7.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 24.3 |
| 2024-25 ☆ | MIL | 58 | 36 | 44.8 | 37.6 | 92.1 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 7.1 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 24.9 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-02-10 11:29:00







