Injured Lillard Set for NBA 3-Point Contest Return

Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers guard sidelined by a torn Achilles tendon, will make his return to competitive shooting at the NBA All-Star Weekend's 3-point contest on February 14 in Inglewood, California. The eight-time All-Star, who has not played a single game this season, received the invitation from the league, marking his first on-court appearance since the injury last spring.

Lillard suffered the season-ending injury in April 2025 during the Milwaukee Bucks' playoff run. The Bucks subsequently waived him and stretched the remaining $113 million on his contract, allowing him to become a free agent. He signed a three-year deal with Portland, the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2012, where he spent 11 seasons before a trade to Milwaukee ahead of the 2023-24 season. Now in rehabilitation, Lillard is expected to miss the rest of the 2025-26 campaign and debut with the Trail Blazers in the 2026-27 season.

The 3-point contest, set at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, will feature Lillard alongside Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland...