Damian Lillard, who hasn’t played this season, joining Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray in NBA All-Star 3-point contest

Damian Lillard isn’t expected to play this season while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

But he’ll return to a familiar spot at next week’s NBA All-Star festivities. The Portland Trail Blazers guard has been invited to participate in the 3-point contest. He’ll do so alongside Devin Booker (Suns), Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Tyrese Maxey (76ers), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Bobby Portis Jr. (Bucks) and Norman Powell (Heat).

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The NBA announced the competitors on Sunday. The 3-point contest will take place next Saturday at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Lillard, a nine-time All-Star, has won the 3-point contest twice. He’ll seek to tie the record of three 3-point contests wins held by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges, who combined to win six of the first seven 3-point contests.

Lillard ruptured his left Achilles tendon last postseason while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. During the offseason, he signed a three-year contract to return to the Trail Blazers with whom he played his first 11 NBA seasons, making seven All-Star teams.

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Lillard, 35, is planning to sit the entire 2025-26 season to recover from his injury and return to the Portland lineup next season. He’s feeling well enough to compete next week and provided an update on his recovery to the “Road Trippin’ Show” last week.

“It’s going great,” Lillard said, per NBC Sports. “I think it’s just one of those injuries where you’ve got to take your time — you know, it takes what it takes. The first couple of weeks to maybe two or three months is kind of frustrating because you’re so limited.

“But with patience, giving yourself grace, and doing the things necessary to continue progressing, you get to a point where you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Lillard previously won the 3-point contest in 2018 and is the only competitor other than Booker with a win.