Milwaukee Bucks superstar Damian Lillard described winning the 3-Point Contest and the NBA All-Star Game MVP the same weekend as a “remarkable achievement.”
Before him, Michael Jordan in 1988 was the only player to achieve success in an All-Star Saturday Night event and then go on to be named MVP. Lillard shared a reaction with ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
“Regardless of how it had to happen or what type of events they are, the fact that nobody has done it since 1988 I think that shows how difficult it is,” Lillard told Andrews. “When you go from your competition to a game to even being in a game with this many great players where anybody could decide to be aggressive and just take off, so it’s an honor to be mentioned next to [Jordan].”
In defending his 3-point crown, Lillard scored 26 points in the final round, securing his victory with a buzzer-beater that surpassed Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young. Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves also made it to the finals.
On the subsequent evening, Lillard led his team with 39 points, contributing to the Eastern Conference’s record-breaking 211-point win over the Western Conference. Among his contributions were 11 three-pointers, including a dramatic half-court shot.
This weekend was indeed memorable for the eight-time All-Star, marking a significant milestone in his career. He will look to use it for momentum, as he’s averaged 24.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in 51 games but is shooting just 42.3 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from the perimeter.
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