Damian Lillard’s return to action with the Blazers will happen in unexpected fashion

Damian Lillard will be in the 3-point contest at All-Star weekend, which will be his first return to action as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lillard has been sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season as he continues to rehab from a torn Achilles tendon. This surprising entry shouldn't alter his timeline for returning to play, as Lillard has been consistent about coming back to start the next season.

Still, the fact that he's entered the 3-point contest is an encouraging sign that his rehab is progressing well, especially since this brutal injury typically affects a player's shooting range.

Damian Lillard enters 3-point contest in first action since Achilles injury

Portland is one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, even after the underrated addition of Vit Krejci at the trade deadline. While it remains unlikely Lillard will return to 100% given his age and the severity of the injury, even a 90% version of Portland's superstar will give this offense a huge boost.

This 3-point contest will give Blazers fans their first real glimpse of how the rehab is progressing, and if the practice videos circulating online are any indication, he has a legitimate chance of securing his third 3-point contest title.

Lillard won back-to-back in 2023 and 2024 after Miami Heat's Tyler Herro ended that run last season.

Herro won't be in the contest this time around, but Lillard still faces stiff competition: Devin Booker, Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis Jr., and Norman Powell.

All-Star weekend takes place Feb. 13-15 at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. Those planning to watch Lillard for the first time this season will have to tune in earlier than usual (2:00 p.m. PT), as the 3-point contest has now been moved to the beginning of Saturday's slate of festivities.

If Dame is able to come away with another title, he would join Boston Celtics' Larry Bird and Chicago Bulls' Craig Hodges as the only players to win the contest three or more times. Bird won the first three contests consecutively in 1986, 1987, and 1988, while Hodges also won three in a row from 1990 to 1992.

So this win would be an impressive feat in itself, given the history, but especially considering the context, as he'd be doing it while coming back from what many previously viewed as a career-ending injury at 35 years old.

Hopefully, Dame can add another to his Hall of Fame resume. But at this point, we're just happy to see him back in a Blazers jersey sooner than expected.