Damian Lillard didn’t wait long to pivot from celebration to recruitment after winning the 2026 All-Star 3-Point Contest. Immediately after Lillard immediately looked ahead to next year and made sure Stephen Curry knew it.
Instead of keeping the moment private, Lillard shared a screenshot of his direct message exchange with the Golden State Warriors star.
In a screenshot that he sent to Curry laying out his vision for 2027, Lillard wrote: “Next year…. Me, you [Steph Curry], Klay [Thompson], book [Devin Booker], and 4 more real shooters.”
Curry‘s response came quickly: “Yessir, I’m in. Know Klay Thompson will do it if I ask and book will be at home. Perfect setup.”
The exchange instantly circulated across social media, not because of the rematch tease, but because of the wording.
By referencing four “real shooters,” Lillard appeared to separate the league’s elite marksmen from the rest of the 2026 field, including the players he had just defeated hours earlier.
Lillard dominates the contest again
The numbers from the contest only made that discussion even more intriguing. Lillard opened with 27 points in Round 1, tying rookie Kon Knueppel.
Phoenix Sunsstar Booker led all competitors with 30 in the opening round, while Cleveland Cavaliers icon Donovan Mitchell posted 24 and Norman Powell added 23.
Jamal Murray, Tyrese Maxey, and Bobby Portis rounded out the field. But the final round created separation.
Lillard delivered 29 points in the championship round, outpacing Booker‘s 27 and Knueppel‘s 17 to secure his third career 3-Point Contest title.
The win placed him alongside Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players in NBA history to win the event three times. That context matters.
Lillard‘s comment followed a performance that reinforced his place in the contest’s history. With three trophies, he’s no longer chasing recognition, but defending his status.
Curry, who owns two 3-Point Contest titles of his own, confirmed publicly during All-Star Weekend that he plans to return next year.
Appearing on NBA programming, he said: “Oh, 100 percent. I already scheduled it. We’re going to bring some people. Me, Dame, I’ll try and get Klay Thompson. Let’s go.”
A move to give the event elite status
A field featuring Curry, Lillard, and Thompson would instantly shift the event from exhibition to a serious battle.
Each represents a defining figure of the modern shooting era, and a fourth title for Lillard would give him sole possession of the all-time record. That possibility is why the conversation escalated so quickly.
Fans have already started proposing additions to the hypothetical field, including James Harden and Anthony Edwards, while others have floated crossover intrigue involving Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu.
Regardless of who ultimately joins, Lillard‘s message accomplished something rare for an All-Star side event. Instead of focusing on format tweaks or prize money, the discussion has shifted towards who counts as elite, and who needs to prove their status in basketball.
