PORTLAND, Ore. — The most unexpected storyline for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend started in the most unexpected of ways: Damian Lillard made a joke.
Now, weeks later, the Trail Blazers star finds himself back in the 3-point contest for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend even though his recovery from an Achilles injury has prevented him from playing this season.
“I’m healthy enough to do it, but who jumps out there and does that?” Lillard asked. “I’m gonna do it.”
Two weeks ago, Liillard said he was on the phone with Michael Levine, a marketing executive for the NBA. The two have become friends during Lillard’s 13 years in the NBA, and as they were in the midst of small talk — how’s the family, how is the Achilles recovery going, what are you doing for All-Star Weekend — Lillard floated an idea.
“It started off as a joke,” Lillard said. “I told him I was going on vacation (for All-Star break), but if y’all need a body, I’ll shoot in the 3-point contest.”
Lillard said Levine was incredulous, but told him the league had already secured its 3-point field.
“He was like, ‘Oh, that would be awesome …’ and we kind of joked about it, and left it at that,” Lillard said.
Late last week, Levine called Lillard back. The 3-point field had a competitor drop out, and Levine wanted to revisit their earlier “joke.”
“He was like … ‘Would you really do it?”’ Lillard remembers. “And I was like, ‘Yeah.”’
Levine called Portland general manager Joe Cronin, who gave his blessing. Levine called Lillard again and again, checking to make sure the two-time 3-point champion was willing to compete. Lillard chuckled and assured him he would.
Less than 24 hours after getting clearance from Cronin and assurance from Lillard, the NBA announced on Sunday Lillard would be in the field against the Devin Booker (Phoenix), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia ), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland), Jamal Murray (Denver), Bobby Portis Jr. (Milwaukee) and Norman Powell (Miami).
“All-Star Weekend needs stars,” Lillard said. “People want to see stars competing.”
For Lillard, his motivation is two-fold.
One, he is thirsting for a tool to break up the monotony of his rehabilitation. He has been pushing his physical since the April 2025 injury, but he hasn’t been able to test his mind.
“I need some competition,” Lillard said. “I’ve just been working out, not playing, so I need some type of competition. I just need a bump.”
Also, Lillard said he likes the idea of being unique, doing things no one else has done. In 2014, Lillard was the first player to compete in the slam dunk contest, 3-point contest, the skills challenge and the All-Star Game.
“I gotta keep, you know, adding to what Dame does,” Lillard said. “Whatever is typical, I do the opposite … I do what I do. This is another one.”
Lillard described his rehabilitation as “progressive,” but he was reluctant to give a full update or insight. Social media videos throughout the season have shown him shooting, sprinting and dunking.
“I can do a lot, that’s where I’ll put it,” Lillard said.
Lillard, 35, says he will remain on his own timeline, and has not paid close attention to how quickly other players have returned or where current players, like Boston star Jayson Tatum, stand in their recovery. The Celtics on Monday announced that Tatum, who injured his Achilles 15 days after Lillard, will join the team’s G League team for practices this week.
“I’m running my own race,” Lillard said. “If I was 23, 24, 25, I probably would be more (competitive) about who is doing what, but I know where I am physically. I can feel it. I’m on the court every day, and to me, it’s not about what (Tatum) is doing. After the season, I’m going into a full summer to get ready for next season, and I want to make sure that I’m 1,000 percent and that I can play every year for the rest of my career as the best version of myself. So, I’m not in a hurry, especially knowing that I’ve got time. That’s the game I’m playing.”
In the meantime, he will get his “bump” this weekend in Los Angeles. It will be his fourth consecutive season competing in the event and the sixth overall. He said he has learned a secret about how to approach the event.
“I learned that every time I practice, I lose,” Lillard said. “And every time I don’t practice, I win. First two times I lost, I practiced. In Utah (2023), I just showed up, shot, and won. Indiana (2024) I showed up, shot, and won. Last year, I was in the gym before and they said we could shoot, and I just, I was like, I ain’t gonna practice, but I just found myself shooting … and I lost.”
If Lillard wins, he will join Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time winners of the event.
“And if I win it again, that means I will be doing it again next year,” Lillard said.