Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is the 2026 Three-Point Contest Champion. He achieved this feat despite sitting out this season due to an Achilles tear. He managed to defeat guard Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns and rookie Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets in the championship round of the tournament.
While accepting his award, the 35-year-old point guard was asked what was going through his mind as he watched Booker take his turn in the three-point contest. Lillard cheerfully admitted he was "praying" for the Suns star to "fall."
“I was praying for his downfall,” Lillard claimed.
"I was praying for his downfall"
What Damian Lillard was thinking when he saw Devin Booker in the final round😅
pic.twitter.com/4329tM90fm https://t.co/bci6DfMFGu
- ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026
It appears to have worked, as Devin Booker failed to surpass Damian Lillard's 29 points in the championship round. The win marked Lillard's third three-point contest win of his career. he joins larry bird And Craig Hodges is the only player in league history to win the competition three times.
With the competition over, Lillard will likely go back to taking care of his Achilles tendon tear in preparation for the 2026-27 campaign. The nine-time All-Star is not expected to return this season, even if the Trail Blazers reach the playoffs. Meanwhile, Portland will continue to lean on Deni Avdija and its young roster. The club is ranked No. 9 in the Western Conference at the All-Star break.
Damian Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Trail Blazers last season after the Milwaukee Bucks waived him. His deal includes a no-trade clause, so there's a chance Lillard finishes his career in Portland. Over the course of 13 years in the league, Lillard has career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game as well as a 43.9% career field goal percentage and 37.1% three-point percentage.
