NBA All-Star: Lillard defies injury absence to match historic record
Damian Lillard has marked his return to the court by winning the NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest, tying Larry Bird and Craig Hodges for the most titles in history despite missing the entire season through injury.
Dame Time strikes in Los Angeles
The Portland Trail Blazers star stepped onto the court having not played a single minute of competitive basketball this campaign.
Yet the rust was non-existent as he posted a final round score of 29.
That total was enough to edge out Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel.
It marks the third time the sharpshooter has claimed the trophy in the last four years.
Joining the immortals
This latest triumph cements Lillard’s legacy as one of the greatest shooters the league has ever seen.
By securing his third crown, he joins Boston Celtics icon Larry Bird and former Chicago Bulls specialist Craig Hodges at the top of the all-time leaderboard.
No other player has managed to win the event, which began in 1986, on three separate occasions.
A turbulent road to recovery
The 35-year-old’s victory is all the more remarkable given his recent fitness struggles.
Lillard suffered a torn left Achilles while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks during their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers last April.
Following surgery in May, his time in Milwaukee came to an abrupt end.
The Bucks waived him via the stretch provision in July, paving the way for an emotional reunion with Portland.
He signed a three-year, $42m contract to return to the franchise where he spent his first 11 seasons, though rehabilitation has kept him sidelined until now.
History repeats itself
Winning the shootout without playing a regular-season game is a statistically rare anomaly.
Lillard becomes only the second player in NBA history to compete in the event after being injured for the entire season leading up to the All-Star break.
He follows in the footsteps of Denver Nuggets guard Voshon Lenard.
Lenard won the competition in 2004 and returned to defend his title in 2005 while still recovering from an opening-night Achilles tear.