Damian Lillard has achieved something unprecedented that’s leaving NBA fans bewildered: competing in the 2026 NBA 3-Point Contest despite not playing a single minute of regular-season basketball this year. On Saturday night in Los Angeles, “Dame Time” made his official return to the Intuit Dome, facing off against Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. As he pursues his third title, which would place him alongside Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time champions, questions naturally arise about how this unusual situation came to be.

Apart from being in Achilles recovery, how does Damian Lillard qualify for an All-Star event? That’s a question on many minds as the guard remains sidelined and hasn’t played a single regular-season game.

How Has Damian Lillard Performed in the 3-Point Contest?

There is precedent for it. A Lithuanian sharpshooter, Rimas Kurtinaitis, competed in 1989 without ever playing an NBA game. So it appears the NBA is flexible with the other All-Star-adjacent events, barring the main game.

Damian Lillard isn’t some honorary participant. He set the bar for the modern 3-Point Contest. Coming into this weekend, Lillard is a two-time consecutive champion, having taken home the hardware in both 2024 and 2025.

His performance in last year’s shootout was legendary, where he donned his alma mater Weber State jersey and coolly knocked down the final “money ball” to secure his back-to-back status.

His performance in this specific format is legendary. Lillard is known for his proficiency from the “Starry Range,” the deep-shot pedestals located several feet behind the arc, worth extra points.

Tonight, while he was “praying” Devin Booker to miss, he was second in the first round with 27 points (Book had 30). In the final round, he beat Book and Knueppel to reclaim his title with 29 points.

He’s now tied with Larry Bird and Craig Hodges in All-Star history. And when he eventually returns next season, he could become the only player with a fourth title.

Why Isn’t Damian Lillard Playing This Season?

The reason Lillard is available for a shooting contest but not a 48-minute game is his ongoing recovery from a torn Achilles suffered during the 2025 playoffs.

While he has been cleared for stationary shooting and “empty gym” drills, the rigours of an NBA schedule are still months away. “Tearing my Achilles was not in the plans. Getting waived was not in the plans,” Lillard admitted before the contest, referring to his tumultuous exit from Milwaukee before re-signing with the Portland Trail Blazers.

As it turns out, the “Dame Time” appearance wasn’t a league-mandated technicality, but rather the result of a casual conversation and a two-time defending champion’s desire for some real stakes.

“I was talking about the break, what I was doing during the break… and I was like, ‘If y’all need somebody to shoot, I’ll come shoot,’” Lillard revealed about his discussion with league official Michael Levine. “I could use some competition, a little bit of pressure. You know, I’m in an empty gym every day.”

Because Lillard is a two-time defending champion, the NBA granted him an automatic invitation for a third attempt regardless of his current season’s statistical output. It gave him an opportunity to dip into a competitive mindset while he grinds in the training room.

He remains positive about his return to Portland. Competing in the 3-point contest allowed him to test his mental fortitude and rhythm in front of a crowd without the risk of a full-speed game. For now, Portland fans will take Dame Time in any capacity they can get it, even if it’s just for 70 seconds behind a rack of money balls.