DAMIAN Lillard added another milestone to his decorated career after reclaiming the NBA Three-Point Contest crown during All-Star Weekend on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California.
The Portland Trail Blazers star, who has not played this season due to an Achilles injury, delivered a strong performance to outshoot Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Kanuppel and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the final round.
Lillard opened with 27 points in the first round to secure a spot in the finals, then elevated his performance with 29 points to claim the title. Booker had an opportunity to overtake Lillard on the final rack but missed his last attempts.
With the win, Lillard joined Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird and Chicago Bulls great Craig Hodges as the only players in NBA history to win the Three-Point Contest three times.
Despite his success in the shooting showcase, Lillard is not expected to suit up for Portland this season as he continues to recover from his injury. He is projected to return fully healthy in time for the 2026–27 NBA season.
Meanwhile, Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat won the Slam Dunk contest, overcoming perfect scores by San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant on his first dunk in the final round.
For his final dunk, Johnson started behind the judges’ table, took off from the free throw line and threw down a one-handed windmill jam. His first dunk earned a slightly higher score for a between-the-legs move.
Bryant earned the contest’s highest score for his first dunk in the final. He bounced the ball in front of him, caught it between his legs and dunked with his right hand, earning perfect 50.0 marks from all five judges.
But Bryant struggled on his second dunk. He attempted bouncing the ball off the glass and throwing down a reverse but it rolled around the rim and out. He settled for a less flashy but successful dunk on his third and final attempt.
It wasn’t enough, giving the NBA a new slam dunk champion in Johnson. He accepted the trophy from Hall of Famer Julius Erving after shaking hands with all of the judges.
In other NBA All-Star Saturday festivities, the Shooting Stars competition went to Team Knicks, consisting of New York’s Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns and former Knicks star Allan Houston./PN
