Damian Lillard may be sidelined for the season with an Achilles injury, but that’s not stopping him from stepping onto the All-Star Weekend stage. The defending 3-Point Contest champion is set to compete in Los Angeles, aiming to add another trophy to his already impressive collection. And while it’s rare to see a player take part in any event while recovering from a major injury, there’s a precedent - and it just so happens to involve a former Denver Nugget.
Back in 2004, Voshon Lenard pulled off a similar feat. He tore his Achilles on opening night - in Los Angeles, no less - during a game against the Lakers.
Despite the injury, Lenard went on to win the 3-Point Contest that same season, becoming the first and only Nugget to claim the title. It’s a footnote in Denver’s basketball history, but one that resonates now as Lillard charts a similar path.
The league has given him the green light, and if Lenard’s story is any indication, Lillard could still make some noise from beyond the arc.
Lillard isn’t just participating - he’s entering the contest with the second-best odds among the eight-man field. Right behind him?
Jamal Murray, who’s making his debut in the event and enters with the third-best odds. Murray’s been shooting a blistering 43% from deep this season, and he’s not just a one-event wonder - he’ll also suit up for his first NBA All-Star Game.
It’s been a minute since a Nugget made waves in the 3-Point Contest. The last to do it was Aaron Afflalo in 2015.
That appearance turned out to be his final moment in a Denver jersey - he was dealt shortly after in a four-team trade. The pick Denver received in that deal eventually became Malik Beasley, who’s now in the headlines for a very different reason.
Currently out of the league pending the results of a gambling investigation, Beasley just signed with Bad Bunny’s team in Puerto Rico. Yes, that Bad Bunny.
Looking further back, Chauncey Billups represented the Nuggets in the 2010 3-Point Contest - and like Murray, he also earned an All-Star nod that year. Billups, known for his steady hand and clutch shooting, brought veteran poise to both stages.
And then there’s Dale Ellis, one of the NBA’s original long-range specialists. Ellis competed in the contest twice as a Nugget in the 1990s - in 1994 and 1997 - and had already made his mark in the event’s early days. He was part of the inaugural 3-Point Contest in 1986 and went on to appear in four straight competitions, setting the tone for what a true sharpshooter looked like in that era.
As for this year’s All-Star Game, Denver will be well represented. Nikola Jokic joins Jamal Murray in the festivities, and while Jokic is never one to make a fuss, don’t be surprised if he plays with a little extra edge. Whether it’s a chip on his shoulder or just another chance to showcase his brilliance on the league’s biggest stage, the Joker rarely disappoints when the lights are brightest.
All eyes will be on Lillard, Murray, and Jokic this weekend - each with something to prove, and each with the chance to add another chapter to their growing legacies.