Damian Lillard will headline 3-point contest at All-Star Saturday – East Bay Instances

By TIM REYNOLDS

Damian Lillard is seemingly going to put on his Portland uniform once more, in a most surprising method.

And he’ll have the Olympics as the tv lead-in for his return.

Lillard — who has not performed this season whereas recovering from a torn Achilles tendon — will take part within the 3-point contest on All-Star Saturday, the NBA introduced.

Viewers received’t have to attend lengthy to see Lillard’s return. All-Star Saturday will lead off this yr with the 3-point contest, a serious change from the norm and a transfer that would command huge rankings — with NBC’s protection of the occasion instantly following broadcasts from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which the community additionally airs.

In different phrases, NBC goes from skating, sliding and snowboarding to taking pictures.

Lillard is becoming a member of 2018 3-point contest champion Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns within the discipline, together with Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Denver’s Jamal Murray, Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis Jr. and Miami’s Norman Powell.

Steph Curry of the Warriors has not participated since 2021, when he received in Atlanta.

If Lillard wins, the Oakland native would be part of Larry Chicken and Craig Hodges as the one three-time winners of the occasion, which will probably be held on the Los Angeles Clippers’ dwelling in Inglewood, California.

Saturday night time’s 3-point contest will probably be adopted by the return of the Taking pictures Stars competitors, then the dunk contest will shut the Saturday night time schedule. The talents competitors is out, not less than for this yr.