It will be an intriguing NBA 3-point contest this year during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The eight-player field is set, with the league announcing the players slated to let it fly from deep.
In what comes as a surprise move, sharpshooter Damian Lillard will suit up for the marquee contest while continuing to miss the season with a torn Achilles. With that in mind, here’s a quick primer on this season’s 3-point contest.
2026 NBA 3-Point Contest: Everything You Need to Know
The much-awaited 3-point contest will take place Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It will be the second event on Saturday. NBA All-Star Saturday, as well as Sunday’s marquee All-Star Game, will be broadcast and streamed live on NBC and Peacock.
Joining Lillard in the event are Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets), Norman Powell (Miami Heat), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), and Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks).
All eyes will be on Lillard, who last appeared in a game in April 2025. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the final moments of Game 4 of the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
The summer that followed saw him waived and stretched by Milwaukee to create cap space to sign Myles Turner in free agency. Weeks later, the Portland Trail Blazers signed him to a three-year, $45 million deal, marking his return to the franchise where he began his NBA career.
This marks Lillard’s sixth appearance in the contest. He won the 3-point competition in 2023 and 2024. At the time of writing, he ranks fifth in NBA history in made 3-pointers with 2,804, trailing Klay Thompson, Ray Allen, James Harden, and Stephen Curry. Lillard has the chance to match the all‑time mark of three 3‑Point Contest titles, a record currently shared by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.
The Blazers star’s return to the court has already sparked discussion on social media following news of his participation. The Trail Blazers currently sit in the play‑in tournament picture with the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors and will look to make a playoff push after the All‑Star break.
Per The Athletic, Mitchell leads the NBA in total 3-pointers made this season with 180. Hornets rookie Knueppel and Maxey rank third and fourth in the league, respectively, behind Curry. This will be Mitchell’s third appearance in the contest.
