Damian Lillard Wins Third State Farm 3-Point Contest While Rehabbing Achilles
Damian Lillard returned to the All-Star Saturday stage and walked away with the State Farm 3-Point Contest crown, sinking 56 points across two rounds and claiming his third title in four seasons while still rehabbing a torn Achilles. The win cements Lillard alongside an exclusive group of three-time champions.
Lillard’s performance and recovery on display
Lillard, who suffered a torn Achilles in April and is still rehabilitating the surgically repaired tendon, showed little visible rust on Saturday night (ET) at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. He posted 27 in the opening round to advance and followed with a 29 in the final, converting 21 of 27 shots in that championship frame. The total of 56 points across both rounds was enough to top an eight-player field and earn Lillard his third 3-Point Contest title in four seasons.
He drained one of his two “From the Logo” shots in the final, and at one stretch hit 10 straight triples, a streak that energized the building. Lillard’s warmups and relentless repetition in rehab were evident in his rhythm; he described daily shooting work as the backbone of his recovery, which helped him feel confident enough to compete despite not playing this regular season.
Key moments, challengers and the final round drama
Devin Booker pushed Lillard to the end. Booker posted the highest first-round total with a 30 and entered the final with momentum, even delivering two perfect racks during the contest. In the championship round, Booker reached 23 and had a realistic path to overtake Lillard as he approached the right-corner money-ball rack. After two made shots that pulled him within two, Booker missed his final three attempts and finished behind Lillard.
Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel also advanced to the final with a 27 and finished third with 17. Donovan Mitchell, Norman Powell, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray and Bobby Portis comprised the remainder of the field. Mitchell and Powell had solid showings—Mitchell matched an early hot stretch by making nine of his first 10 shots before finishing with 24, and Powell made a logo shot en route to 23—but they fell short of advancing. Maxey and Murray struggled to find consistency and were eliminated after the opening round.
The contest’s format — five shooting stations, 70 seconds per shooter, and two three-point shots from the logo worth extra points — produced frantic finishes and late-game swings. Lillard’s composure and ability to convert both catch-and-shoot looks and off-the-dribble attempts proved decisive in the final round.
Legacy implications and next steps
With this victory Lillard joins two legendary names as three-time winners of the 3-point competition, reinforcing his reputation as one of the era’s preeminent shooters. The triumph is a high-profile milestone in his recovery timeline but does not alter the timetable for his return to regular-season action; he stressed that the contest was a controlled, low-contact opportunity to test his progress and not a sign of rushing back.
For fans and teammates, the display offered encouragement: Lillard’s shooting mechanics and mobility around the racks seemed to be returning, and his competitive edge remained intact. How the performance translates to in-game minutes will be watched closely when the Trail Blazers and medical staff clear him to resume full basketball activity.
All told, Lillard’s title run on Saturday (ET) was a reminder of his shooting pedigree and competitive instincts at a time when both are closely watched. The victory added another chapter to his All-Star Weekend résumé and left a clear message: even while rehabbing, Lillard remains a force from long range.
