Damian Lillard will make his first appearance of the season in next weekend’s NBA Three-Point Contest after recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon, the league confirmed on Sunday.

The 35-year-old guard, a nine-time All-Star, has not played this season following the injury he suffered during last year’s playoffs while with Milwaukee. He was subsequently waived by the Bucks before rejoining the Portland Trail Blazers, the team he represented for the first 11 seasons of his career.

Lillard, fifth on the NBA’s all-time three-point list with 2,804 makes, is a two-time Three-Point Contest champion, having won in 2023 and 2024. A victory in Los Angeles next Saturday would tie him with Larry Bird and Craig Hodges for the most titles in the event’s history.

The contest will be part of All-Star Saturday festivities, which also include the Slam Dunk Contest and Shooting Stars competition, leading up to Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game.

Joining Lillard in the eight-player field are Phoenix’s Devin Booker, the 2018 champion, as well as four 2026 All-Stars: Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Denver’s Jamal Murray, and Miami’s Norman Powell.

Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel could become the first NBA rookie to win the event. Other newcomers include Maxey, Murray, and Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis Jr.

In the format, players have 70 seconds to shoot from beyond the arc in the first round. The top three scorers advance to the final round, where the highest total determines the champion.