NBA Rumors: Bucks' Damian Lillard to Defend 3-Point Contest Title at All-Star Weekend

Milwaukee Bucks star point guard Damian Lillard will reportedly participate in the 2024 3-Point Contest at All-Star weekend, according to TNT Sports' Chris Haynes.

Lillard is the reigning champion of the contest, hoisting the trophy in 2023 after defeating Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton in the final round.

Although the 33-year-old is shooting just 34.7 percent from behind the arc this season, he takes a high volume of difficult three-point shots and has already proven himself as one of the greatest long-range shooters in NBA history.

It's been an eventful week for Lillard, who dropped a season-high 45 points in a win over the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 20. Then, he was named an All-Star starter on Thursday for the first time in his career after he was selected as a reserve in each of his previous seven All-Star nods.

Lillard will attempt to become the first player to win consecutive 3-Point Contests since Jason Kapono, as the former Toronto Raptors sharpshooter hoisted the trophy in 2007 and 2008. The All-NBA point guard may see a familiar face in the contest, as Bucks teammate Malik Beasley has discussed his intention to participate as well.

"I don't know if you noticed, but the last three years, I'm top two, top three in field goals made from three overall in the last three years," Beasley told Haynes in a Jan. 14 interview. "So you know, I'm saying I'm shooting the ball pretty well, and you know what's tough for me is the political stuff, so hopefully, this year, I get in."

"Me and [Damian] have already been talking smack, because he won last year, so he thinks he's got it easy," he added.

Both Lillard and Beasley have been the driving forces behind the Bucks connecting on the sixth-most threes as a team this season, with the backcourt duo combining to hit 5.9 triples each night.