Damian Lillard has yet to log a single minute this season for the Portland Trail Blazers, and his absence hasn’t exactly flown under the radar. But his surprise inclusion in the three-point contest of the All-Star Games 2026 has turned heads across the NBA. Does this mean the nine-time all-star is gearing up for a return, possibly before the playoffs?
Is Demian Lillard Returning for the 2025-26 Season
The 35-year-old guard has been sidelined all year while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered last season during the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.
The injury, which occurred in Game 4, effectively shut down Lillard’s 2025–26 campaign before it ever began, and Portland has already ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
Still, Lillard’s name unexpectedly resurfaced this week in a far more celebratory context. On Feb. 8, the NBA announced that Lillard will participate in the 2026 Three-Point Contest, set for Saturday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. ET. It does not mean the veteran guard is returning for the season.
For a player nearly 10 months into Achilles rehab, stepping onto the All-Star stage, even in a controlled shooting environment, is a notable signal.
He’s one of the most decorated shooters in contest history, having appeared five times overall and in each of the last three seasons. He also happens to be the winner of the back-to-back Three-Point Contests in 2023 and 2024.
But, despite the encouraging optics, there’s been no shift in Portland’s stance. The Blazers have given no indication that Lillard will return this season. All signs point to a carefully managed recovery aimed at having him ready for opening night next year.
That patience makes sense. Lillard is the 2024 All-Star Game MVP and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. He’s also the player who led Portland to eight playoff appearances during his prime after being selected sixth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. He is crucial for the Trail Blazers, counting on his experience.
After spending 11 seasons in Portland, he was traded to Milwaukee ahead of the 2023–24 season. The Bucks ultimately waived and stretched the remaining $103 million on his contract last July to facilitate a deal for center Myles Turner.
In July 2025, he re-signed with the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal that included a no-trade clause, ensuring he’d finish his career where it began.
Portland currently sits 10th in the Western Conference standings with a 25-28 record, clinging to a faint playoff pulse despite playing the entire season without its star guard. Lillard, meanwhile, won’t be part of the Trail Blazers’ late-season push, but if the recovery stays on schedule, next season is when the real comeback begins.
