Damian Lillard has a way of making even a practice clip feel like a statement.
The Portland Trail Blazers shared a photo on their official X page showing Lillard drilling 1,100 of 1,168 3-point attempts in an offseason workout - a 94.2 percent clip that reads more like a typo than a training session. For anyone wondering how he might look when Portland gets him back for the 2026-27 return season, that kind of number is about as reassuring as it gets.
Lillard already gave the Blazers a different kind of show just a few weeks ago when they unveiled their 82-game schedule. He responded by knocking down 29 straight 3-pointers, one for each opponent Portland will face in 2026-27.
The bigger picture matters here, too. Portland spent last season near the bottom of the league in 3-point percentage, and the need for a steady second option beside first-time All-Star Deni Avdija has been a major talking point. The additions of Lillard and Ja Morant are expected to shift that conversation in a big way, and Lillard’s presence alone makes it hard to imagine the Blazers finishing No. 28 in 3-point percentage for a second straight year.
There’s also a clear hint in the numbers about what version of Lillard could matter most. In his last fully-healthy season in 2024-25, he posted a 61.5 effective field goal percentage on catch-and-shoot looks and hit 40.5 percent of his 3-pointers with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Portland’s first chance to show it all in action comes in early October, when preseason play begins.
Until then, the debate may center on what counts as a “perfect shot” and why Lillard “only” missed two. But the larger takeaway is hard to miss: his place among the league’s greatest long-range shooters is as secure as ever.
In Other News...
Ja Morant Just Added To Damian Lillard Buzz In Portland
Ja Morants arrival has only added another layer to the Damian Lillard conversation in Portland, where the former Blazers star is working his way back from an Achilles injury while the franchise turns the page toward a new season. Lillards rehab has become a constant point of curiosity around the team, especially after reports of a sharp shooting workout suggested there is still plenty of touch left in his game.
For the Blazers, the timing matters because Morant joins the group as it tries to get back on steadier ground after a difficult stretch and build something more dependable heading into the season. The mix of a high-profile newcomer and the lingering pull of Lillards return gives Portland a storyline that is bigger than one player, and it leaves plenty of room for the next update to say even more about where this team is headed. [Read more 🡒]