Damian Lillard making an improbable return to All-Star Weekend

Damian Lillard tore his Achilles playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in last year's playoffs. Now he'll be returning to the court for All-Star Weekend.

Now a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard is part of the eight-player field for the Three-Point Contest. It'll be his fourth straight time participating in the event, which he won in 2023 and 2024, with this year's event being the most surprising appearance of all.

Damian Lillard's presence is a great sign for the Blazers — and Celtics

Recovering from an Achilles tear usually requires a full year of recovery. Even then, players often come back hampered due to the devastating nature of the injury.

But perhaps medical advances have shortened that timeline. Shooting three-pointers isn't as taxing as playing an actual NBA game, but it's still a welcome surprise that Lillard will be competing just nine months and 11 days after his Achilles surgery, performed on May 2 last year.

That's also an encouraging sign for another All-Star who tore his Achilles during the playoffs. Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics suffered his injury in Game 4 of the team's second-round loss to the New York Knicks and had surgery May 13. The Celtics haven't said they're planning to bring him back for the end of the season, but he recently began doing 5-on-5 work on the court.

There's a few other factors that could allow Tatum to be back earlier than Lillard. The Trail Blazers star is 35, while Tatum turns 28 on March 3. Tatum also had his surgery within 24 hours of his injury, a factor that may accelerate his recovery process — maybe enough for him to contribute in the playoffs.

Damian Lillard becomes the sentimental Three-Point Contest favorite

While the Slam Dunk Contest often struggles to attract star competitors, the Three-Point Contest once again has a loaded field. There are five All-Stars competing, along with nine-time All-Star Lillard.