Damian Lillard surprise addition to 3-point contest at NBA All-Star Weekend

A torn Achilles tendon has kept Damian Lillard from playing all season, but it won’t keep him from competing in NBA All-Star Weekend.

The NBA announced that the 35-year-old Portland Trail Blazers star will be one of eight participants in this year’s 3-point shooting contest next Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

Lillard last appeared in an NBA game in Game 4 of the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers last April. He suffered a torn Achilles near the end of that game and was waived by the Bucks over the summer to give the franchise room to sign Myles Turner in free agency. A few weeks later, the Blazers signed him to a three-year, $45 million deal, bringing him back to the franchise where he began his NBA career, despite the injury.

This will be Lillard’s sixth appearance in the contest, which he won in 2023 and 2024. He ranks fifth in NBA history in 3-pointers made with 2,804. Here’s a look at the field:

State Farm 3-Point Contest

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
• Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
• Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers
• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
• Bobby Portis Jr., Milwaukee Bucks
• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

Mitchell leads the league in total 3-pointers made with 180, with Knueppel and Maxey third and fourth, respectively, behind Stephen Curry, who is not participating. Mitchell is one of 14 players, including Lillard, to have competed in both the dunk and 3-point contests. This is his third time competing in the 3-point contest.

Portis is the only player competing outside of Lillard to not rank in the top 50 in total 3-pointers in the NBA this season. None of the participants are ranked in the top five this year in 3-point percentage.