Damian Lillard Set to Compete in 3-Point Contest, Marking First On-Court Return Since Achilles Injury
It’s not a full comeback just yet, but make no mistake - Dame Time is officially back on the clock.
Damian Lillard is set to take part in the 3-point contest during All-Star Weekend, marking his first on-court action since suffering a torn Achilles tendon. And while this doesn’t signal an early return to full game action, it’s a major step forward for the Portland Trail Blazers star, who’s been sidelined all season rehabbing the injury.
Lillard has stayed firm on his plan to return at the start of next season, and by all accounts, that timeline hasn’t changed. But his decision to lace up for the 3-point shootout offers a pretty clear message: his rehab is trending in the right direction.
Achilles injuries are notoriously tough on shooters - the lower-leg explosion, the lift, the balance - all of it gets tested. So for Lillard to feel confident enough to take the stage in a high-profile shooting competition?
That’s no small milestone.
Portland Gets a Glimpse of Hope
This appearance means more than just a fun All-Star moment. For a Trail Blazers team that’s struggled mightily from deep this season - even after adding Vit Krejci at the trade deadline - Lillard’s involvement is a reminder of what this offense has been missing. Even if he doesn’t return at full strength, a 90% version of Dame still changes the geometry of the floor in a way few players can.
Blazers fans have been clinging to practice footage and workout clips, trying to gauge how close their franchise cornerstone is to being himself again. Now, they’ll get a real-time look - under the bright lights, with a rack of basketballs, and a ticking clock.
A Shot at History
This won’t be Lillard’s first rodeo. He won back-to-back 3-point titles in 2023 and 2024 before Miami’s Tyler Herro snapped the streak last year. Herro won’t be in the field this time, but Lillard still faces a loaded lineup, including the likes of Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis Jr., Norman Powell, and rising rookie Kon Knueppel.
The contest takes place Saturday, February 14, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles - home of the Clippers - and fans hoping to catch Dame in action will need to tune in early. The 3-point contest has been moved to the start of Saturday’s events, with tip-off set for 2:00 p.m. PT.
Should Lillard take home another trophy, he’d join elite company. Only Larry Bird and Craig Hodges have won the event three or more times.
Bird famously won the first three contests from 1986 to 1988, while Hodges claimed three straight from 1990 to 1992. For Lillard, a third title would not only tie him with those legends - it would come with the added weight of battling back from one of the most feared injuries in basketball, at age 35, no less.
More Than Just a Contest
At this point in his career, Lillard doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. His Hall of Fame résumé is already inked with clutch shots, deep threes, and unwavering loyalty to Portland. But this moment - stepping back into the spotlight, in a Blazers jersey, with a chance to make a little more history - means something.
It’s not about sending a message to the league. It’s about showing he’s still got it. And for fans in Rip City, it’s about seeing their guy back where he belongs: on the court, with the ball in his hands, and the world watching the clock.
Because when it hits zero, and the lights are brightest, there’s only one thing left to say.
It’s Dame Time. ⌚