In spite of not playing a minute of NBA basketball since his torn left Achilles tendon sustained on April 27, 2025, [Portland Trail Blazers](http://blazersedge.com) guard Damian Lillard is the 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest champion. He joins Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only 3-time winners of the event.
The format for the 3-point contest remained the same this year as 2025. Eight players competed in the first round, with the top three scorers advancing to the final round. Participants were Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Norman Powell, Bobby Portis, rookie Kon Knueppel, 2018 winner Devin Booker, and of course, Lillard.
Each contestant had 70 second to shoot 27 balls total. Two of the balls were “from the logo” balls, shot from 29 feet and 9 inches away from the hoop, six feet beyond the normal 3-point line. These two balls were worth 3 points each instead of the normal 1 point. The other 25 balls were divided into five racks of five balls at standard locations spread out around the 3-point arc. Participants designated one rack as the “money ball” rack, where each ball was worth 2 points for a make. Finally, the remaining four racks consisted of four normal balls and one money ball each. Add up the two 3-point “from the logo” balls, the nine 2-point “money balls”, and the 16 normal balls, you get a possible maximum total of 40 points for each round for each contestant.
The first round was full sharp-shooting performances. Knueppel started things off with an outstanding 27. Booker outdid him with a tremendous 30. With Mitchell on the bubble on 24, Lillard stepped up as the last shooter, typing Knueppel with 27. This in spite of missing both of his “from the logo” balls. Knueppel, Lillard, and Mitchell advanced to the final round.
Knueppel could only manage 17 in the second round.
Lillard shot second and set the bar extremely high with an electric 29. This time he drained one of the “from the logo” shots and made good use the “money balls”. The stage was set for Booker. Incredibly, he drained his first nine shots and looked well on the way to eclipsing Lillard’s total. When Booker made his second “from the logo” shot, it looked like it was all over. Saving his money rack for last, Book was on 27 with three balls left, needing only one more basket to tie and two to win. Instead, Booker missed all three of his last shot, making Lillard 3-point Contest champion for the third time in his career.
In comments immediately following the event, Lillard thanked the NBA for letting him participate despite missing the season with injury. Dame also admitted that he was “praying for his downfall” while watching Booker in the final round after Dame shot, which elicited a smile from Booker.