Damian Lillard, sidelined all season as he recovers from a torn left Achilles tendon, matched a long-standing record by capturing his third career NBA Three-Point Contest title on Saturday night.

Granted special permission by the league to compete despite not appearing in a single regular-season game this year, the 35-year-old Portland Trail Blazers guard edged Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns 29-27 in a dramatic final round.

“In a season where I’m not participating, the league allowing me to come in and do something like this to get some competition, feel a little bit of pressure, to get in front of the fans again, it was a great experience,” Lillard said.

Lillard suffered the injury during last year’s playoffs while with the Milwaukee Bucks. He was later waived and re-signed by Portland, the franchise where he spent his first 11 NBA seasons and established himself as one of the league’s most feared long-range shooters.

Displaying the same poise and precision that defined his prime, Lillard added the 2026 crown to his previous triumphs in 2023 and 2024. The victory sees him equal the contest record of three wins, previously shared by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.

“That’s all I do it for, to keep adding to my legacy, adding to my reputation and being who I am,” Lillard said. “I was given the opportunity and I came out and took advantage of it.”

Shooting last in the opening round, Lillard needed a strong finish to secure one of three spots in the final. Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets set the tone with 27 points, while 2018 champion Booker poured in 30 as the penultimate shooter. Lillard responded with 27 of his own — highlighted by five consecutive makes from the left wing — to edge out Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who posted 24.

“You’ve got to just let the ball fly and trust your instincts as a shooter,” Lillard said. “You can’t be rattled when somebody else gets hot or when the crowd gets loud… you’ve just got to shoot and do you and that’s what I show up and do.”

In the final, Knueppel opened with 17. Lillard then calmly drilled his final baseline attempt to close on 27. Booker had a chance to force a tie but missed his final three shots from the baseline, handing Lillard the title.

“I was praying on his downfall,” Lillard admitted with a smile. “Coming in I could see it being me, Book and Kon at the end. I knew it would be stiff competition. He was in position. It just took for a couple of shots to rattle out, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”

Elsewhere during All-Star Saturday, the Shooting Stars competition was claimed by Team Knicks, featuring Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and former New York standout Allan Houston.