Damian Lillard’s Return to the Three-Point Contest Is More Than Just a Comeback - It’s a Statement
Nine months and change after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs, Damian Lillard is back - not in uniform for a regular-season game, but stepping onto one of the NBA's biggest stages: All-Star Weekend. And not just as a spectator or honorary guest. Lillard is suiting up for the Three-Point Contest, an event he’s made his own in recent years.
Now back with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard will be competing in the Three-Point Contest for the fourth straight year. He’s already won it twice - in 2023 and 2024 - and this year’s appearance might be the most remarkable yet. Not because of the competition, which is stacked with five current All-Stars, but because of what it represents: a player defying the odds of one of basketball’s most feared injuries.
A Comeback That Defies the Usual Timeline
An Achilles tear is one of the most daunting injuries in sports. It’s not just the physical toll - the rehab is long, the explosiveness is hard to regain, and the mental hurdle of trusting that leg again can be massive. Typically, players are sidelined for a full year, and even then, many don’t return looking like their old selves.
Lillard, however, is stepping back into the spotlight just nine months and 11 days after undergoing surgery on May 2. Sure, the Three-Point Contest isn’t a full-speed NBA game.
There’s no cutting, no defense, no transition sprints. But it’s still a live competition, and it still requires lift, rhythm, and confidence in your body.
For Lillard to be ready this soon? That’s not just encouraging - it’s remarkable.
What This Means for the Blazers - and Maybe the Celtics
Lillard’s return doesn’t just impact Portland. It also offers a glimmer of hope for another star recovering from the same injury: Boston’s Jayson Tatum. The Celtics forward tore his Achilles during Game 4 of Boston’s second-round series against the Knicks and had surgery on May 13 - just 11 days after Lillard.
Tatum recently started participating in 5-on-5 drills, and while Boston hasn’t committed to a timeline for his return, Lillard’s progress could be a sign that Tatum might be closer than many expected. There are a few key differences that could work in Tatum’s favor: he’s younger - turning 28 in March, compared to Lillard’s 35 - and he had surgery within 24 hours of his injury, a factor some doctors believe can accelerate recovery.
If Lillard can compete in a high-level shooting event less than 10 months post-surgery, Tatum contributing in the playoffs doesn’t feel as far-fetched as it once did.
A Fan Favorite With History on the Line
Lillard’s presence in the Three-Point Contest isn’t just about recovery - it’s about legacy. With two titles already under his belt, Lillard has a chance to join elite company.
Only Craig Hodges and Larry Bird have won the event three times. And like Hodges in 1993, Lillard is competing despite not having played a regular-season game this year.
Back then, Hodges wasn’t even on an NBA roster. He competed wearing a generic “NBA” jersey, chasing a fourth straight title.
He fell short to Mark Price, who went on to win it again the next year. Lillard’s situation is different - he’s still very much a part of the Blazers’ plans - but the symmetry is hard to ignore.
If Lillard pulls this off, it won’t just be another trophy for the shelf. It’ll be a moment.
A reminder of his resilience. A nod to his place in league history.
A signal to other injured stars - like Tatum - that the road back might be shorter than it used to be.
And maybe, just maybe, he’ll be the emotional heartbeat of All-Star Weekend. Because in a contest filled with sharpshooters, Lillard’s story is the one that resonates.