Blazers’ Damian Lillard to Participate in All-Star Three-Point Contest

Feb 3, 2023 - 5:23 PM

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One of NBA history’s premier shooters, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard intends to put his skills to the test at Salt Lake City’s 2023 All-Star Weekend, according to Yahoo Sports Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes.

A day after being named to his seventh All-Star Game, Lillard is set to make his third appearance in the competitive Three-Point Contest. At the time of publication, the full list of participants have not been released. Although, the Blazers will be well-represented throughout the weekend; Lillard’s teammate Shaedon Sharpe is also scheduled to partake in the Slam Dunk Contest.

For Lillard, the hope is that the third time will be the charm. In 2014, Lillard’s second season and first All-Star Game appearance, the decorated Blazer became the first player in NBA history to participate in every event — the Rising Stars Game (1), the Skills Challenge (2), the Three-Point Contest (3), the Slam Dunk Contest (4), and the All-Star Game (5) to finish.

In 2019, he also competed, bowing out prior to the championship round, though not before draining his customary buzzer-beating shot, much to the delight of the crowd.

Regardless of whomever the other participants are, few will enter as experienced as Lillard is. Over the course of the 2022-23 campaign, Lillard ranks: tied for seventh in 3-point makes (156), fifth in 3-point attempts (420), and his 37.1 percent success rate on those attempts rank among the top of the high-volume shot makers.

The Three-Point Contest will take place on Saturday, February 18th.