United States. The point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard, wrote another brilliant chapter in his career by winning the Three-Point Contest for the third time in the National Basketball Association, tying the historical record of the event.
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Although he won’t play this season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in the past playoffs, Lillard took advantage of his presence at the All-Star Weekend to demonstrate that his aim is still intact. In the final round, he recorded 29 points and surpassed
Devin Booker, star of the
Phoenix Suns, in an exciting duel, who finished with 27 units after missing his last three shots of the decisive rack.
Booker had led the first round with 30 points, while Lillard and the rookie of the
Charlotte Hornets, Kon Knueppel, advanced with 27 each. In the final, the young guard stayed at 17 points to finish third.
A Place in History
With this triumph, Lillard becomes the third player to win the Three-Point Contest three times, joining
Larry Bird and
Craig Hodges, legends of the contest.
The veteran point guard ignited the crowd by hitting 14 of his first 16 shots in the final round, including a special long-distance ball, in a display that recalled his best nights from the perimeter.
Current situation of Lillard
The 35-year-old player suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the fourth game of the first-round series while playing with the
Milwaukee Bucks. He was subsequently released and signed a three-year contract with Portland, the franchise he returned to to start a new stage.
The nine-time All-Star is expected to be fully recovered for the start of the 2026-27 season. Last season, he averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, shooting 37.6% from the three-point line.
Although his competitive participation this year may have been unique, Damian Lillard made it clear that, even out of action, he remains one of the most lethal shooters in NBA history.
