Damian Lillard Wins 3rd 3-Point Contest While Rehabbing Torn Achilles
Damian Lillard returned to the All-Star stage on Saturday night and proved his shooting chops remain elite. Competing while still rehabbing a torn left Achilles, Lillard fired a 29 in the championship round to take his third 3-Point Contest crown in four seasons, edging Devin Booker and rookie Kon Knueppel at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Sharp shooting and a steady comeback
Lillard, who has not played in an NBA game this season after suffering the Achilles injury in April and having surgery in May, stepped into the competition with confidence. He totaled 56 points across two rounds, making 21 of 27 attempts in the final and sinking one of his two high-value “From the Logo” shots. The late surge included a run of consecutive makes that energized the building and underscored his comfort moving through the contest rotation.
He advanced to the championship round after posting a 27 in the first stage, matching rookie Kon Knueppel, while Devin Booker led the opening slate with a 30. In the finals, Knueppel managed 17, and Booker closed with 27 after missing his final three money-ball attempts — a disappointing finish for a shooter who had earlier gone perfect on multiple racks.
After the win Lillard emphasized that daily work and a refreshed body played a role: "I came in confident. I'm fresh. I don't have to go out there and play 40 minutes, 35 minutes. I think just having this year to be away, my mind and body [are] just fresh. So I came out there excited to do it. " He also described how the idea to compete began casually but became real when a spot opened late.
Historical milestone and context
With the victory, Lillard joined an exclusive group of three-time winners of the 3-point event. His accomplishment places him alongside the two players who had previously reached that mark, cementing his status as one of the contest’s most successful participants since the competition began in the 1980s.
The appearance was notable beyond the trophy. Lillard is one of a handful of players to take part in the contest while rehabbing a ruptured Achilles; the last to do so and win was Voshon Lenard in the mid-2000s. The performance provided a tangible sign of progress in Lillard’s recovery timeline — though he and his camp have been clear that the exhibition won’t accelerate his planned return to regular-season action.
Several other prominent players who suffered Achilles injuries last spring have been on varied recovery paths, and Lillard’s outing offered a reminder that modern rehabilitation can return players to high-level shooting and movement sooner than earlier eras might have allowed. Still, the guard reiterated that this event was a measured step in a broader comeback plan rather than a full clearance to resume game minutes.
Event takeaway and reaction
The contest became the featured attraction of All-Star Saturday, drawing attention for its competitive drama and the narrative of a star returning to the spotlight. Booker, gracious in defeat, acknowledged the quality of the final round and the difficulty of the moment: "That'll sting me for some time, " he said after missing his final money balls.
For Lillard, the win was both personal and performative — proof that his shot remains reliable even while he continues the long work of rehabbing a major injury. It also adds a memorable chapter to his All-Star résumé and gives fans and teammates a high-profile glimpse of the player’s progress as he charts his next steps back to full-time competition.
