Damian Lillard Talks Achilles Injury Recovery, How He Joined NBA 3-Point Contest After Historic Win

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard discussed his victory in the 3-Point Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday while recovering from a torn Achilles.

"I wouldn't say I'm representing the Achilles nation or nothing like that," Lillard told reporters after his victory. "I do think I represent strength. We are athletes so when we go through injury people act like it's the end of the world because people are used to us being lifted up and everything being about us but people go through way worse. They carry on and they continue to move forward and experience worse things than injuries. For me it was more about representing strength."

"I didn't choose to be weak about it," he added.

Lillard's victory is especially impressive considering he was already ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season after he suffered an Achilles tear in April 2025.

He revealed to reporters that his participation in the event "started off as a joke" until a spot opened up for him in the 3-Point Contest field.

"It was literally that simple," Lillard explained. "I said I would do it and the next day I was in the competition."

The nine-time All-Star also detailed the competitive nature of the event.

"It felt like a game for me," Lillard told reporters. "Coming into it, I don't know if you can compete harder at a three-point shootout but I definitely cared more. I didn't come in like, 'Oh, it is what it is.' It was like, 'I'm trying to win.' If they give me this opportunity I don't want it to be everybody like, 'Oh Dame is shooting,' and then I go out there and get 15 in the first round and I'm done. I wasn't going out like that"

Lillard scored 27 points in the first round before tallying 29 points in the final round, taking a lead over fellow finalists Kon Knueppel and Devin Booker.

Booker had a chance to win the contest, but the Phoenix Suns star missed each of his final three shots to seal the victory for Lillard.

Lillard joined Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players in NBA history to win the event on three separate occasions.