Damian Lillard to participate in 3-point contest despite Achilles tendon injury
Damian Lillard, sidelined all season with Portland due to an Achilles tendon rupture, will make his return at the 2026 All-Star Weekend 3-point contest. The two-time winner will attempt to claim a record third title.
Photo Credit : © Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Major surprise announced by the NBA this Sunday: Damian Lillard will participate in the 2026 All-Star Weekend 3-point contest, even though he hasn’t played a single minute this season. The Portland Trail Blazers guard, who suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during the 2025 playoffs with Milwaukee, will return to the court on February 14 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
This participation marks a symbolic moment for Lillard, who will once again wear the Portland jersey after his return to Oregon this summer. The 35-year-old was injured on April 28, 2025 during Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs against Indiana, ending his time with the Bucks.
A strong field for a historic contest
Lillard will face a quality field consisting of Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), winner in 2018, Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Bobby Portis Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks), Norman Powell (Miami Heat) and rookie sensation Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets).
Two-time consecutive winner in 2023 and 2024, Lillard can tie the record of three victories held by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges. With 2,804 career 3-pointers and a 43.9% shooting percentage, « Dame Time » remains one of the league’s most feared shooters despite his absence from the court.
The 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest field ⬇️
Saturday, Feb. 14 | 5 p.m. ET | NBC & Peacock
Former champ Devin Booker among five 2026 All-Stars.
Two-time winner Damian Lillard can match the record with a third title.
Kon Knueppel can become the first rookie to win the event. pic.twitter.com/W6cI4LdctJ
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 8, 2026
The three-point contest will, for one of the first times, kick off Saturday’s All-Star night, followed by Shooting Stars and the dunk contest. The sequencing is part of NBC’s broader plan, with the broadcast flowing directly into Winter Olympics coverage.
For Damian Lillard, it’s a chance to show the range is still there ahead of his official return to the NBA—and a cameo that already feels like one of the weekend’s built-in moments.
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
Comments (0)