Damian Lillard remains one of the most consequential personalities in modern basketball, even as his career moves through its most unexpected chapters. The nine‑time All‑Star and long-time Portland icon tore his left Achilles in April 2025 while with the Milwaukee Bucks, a setback that prompted major roster moves, and yet by mid‑2025 he was back under a Trail Blazers jersey, rehabbing, and extending his influence beyond the NBA court as he prepares for what may be a second act.
Snapshot: Where things stand
By the numbers and the headlines, Lillard's 2024 and 2025 calendar years were turbulent, and revealing. After averaging around 25 points and 7 assists in the 2024–25 regular season, he suffered a blood clot in his right calf in March 2025, returned briefly, and then ruptured his left Achilles late in April. The injury sidelined him for the immediate future, and the Milwaukee Bucks, in a dramatic salary cap move, waived and stretched the remainder of his contract in July 2025. Two weeks later Lillard signed a reported three‑year deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, and in August he accepted a new leadership role at Weber State, his alma mater, as general manager of the men's program.
The arc of a scorer
Early rise and Portland legacy
Damian Lillard arrived in the NBA as the sixth pick in 2012 and quickly became a franchise cornerstone. Over 11 seasons in Portland he redefined the Blazers' identity, becoming the club's all‑time leading scorer and one of the league's most reliable late‑game finishers. He earned multiple All‑NBA nods, built a reputation for deep range, and turned "Dame Time" into a cultural phrase across the league.
The Milwaukee experiment
In September 2023 Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, in a deal that reshaped both franchises' short term outlook. The collaboration with Giannis Antetokounmpo promised inside‑out balance, but injuries and timing limited the partnership's payoff. He produced efficient numbers, and even delivered one of his finest All‑Star Weekend performances in 2024, but the pair never produced the postseason breakthrough that many had expected.
Health, roster math, and a return to Portland
Lillard's 2024–25 season featured two severe medical episodes, and each had consequences that reached beyond his minutes on the court. First came the deep vein thrombosis, which required anticoagulation and forced a careful, medically supervised absence. Then, after being cleared to play, he suffered a torn left Achilles during the first round of the 2025 playoffs. The injury is one of the most serious an athlete can face, and it prompted the Bucks to use the stretch provision on his remaining salary in order to sign a big free agent centerpiece.
Faced with rehabilitation and free agency, Lillard chose to return to Portland. The deal he signed with the Trail Blazers is modest compared with his peak earnings, and it reflects both market reality and personal priorities, including family and legacy. While the contract keeps the door open to a competitive return, it also gives Portland a high‑profile mentor for a younger roster.
"I wanted to be somewhere my family is comfortable, and somewhere I could contribute while getting healthy," Lillard said in public comments after rejoining Portland, capturing the mix of pragmatism and loyalty that has shaped his choices.
Off the court: Weber State and leadership
Lillard's announcement that he would become the general manager of Weber State's men's basketball program represents a clear pivot toward leadership and long‑term influence. The role is expected to mix mentorship, recruiting help, and public advocacy for the program, while allowing Lillard to remain engaged with basketball as he rehabilitates. That step follows a pattern in modern pro sports, where veteran players take formal or informal roles in development pipelines while their playing careers wind down or pause.
All‑Star Weekend and a surprising moment
Despite not playing in the 2025–26 NBA regular season, Lillard participated in the 2026 All‑Star Weekend's 3‑Point Contest, and he won. The victory was more than a novelty; it showcased Lillard's shooting craft and provided a public proof point that, even in recovery, he retains elite feel and confidence. For fans and front offices alike, the win offered a reminder that a return to competitive shooting, and perhaps to NBA minutes, remains plausible.
Numbers that matter
Season | Team | PPG | APG | RPG | 3P Made per game | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Career through 2024–25 | Various | ~25.0 | ~6.7 | ~4.3 | Top 5 in career 3‑pointers made | Longtime elite scorer and playmaker |
2023–24 | Milwaukee | 24.3 | 7.0 | 4.4 | 3.0 | Debut season in Milwaukee, All‑Star MVP in 2024 |
2024–25 | Milwaukee | 24.9 | 7.1 | 4.7 | 3.4 | Season cut short by blood clot, then Achilles injury |
Context: career numbers are rounded and represent Lillard's place among modern perimeter scorers, and his continued proficiency from distance.
Rehab, timeline, and realistic expectations
Rehabilitating a torn Achilles is a multi‑stage process that typically spans many months, and it requires patience, specialized care, and incremental load management. Expectations should be measured, but past NBA precedent shows that elite shooters can regain high levels of effectiveness.
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Typical rehab phases for a torn Achilles
- Surgical repair and immediate immobilization, 0 to 2 weeks
- Protected weight bearing and early range of motion, 2 to 8 weeks
- Progressive loading, strength and balance, 8 to 16 weeks
- On court work, sport specific drills, 4 to 8+ months
- Return to competitive play, variable, often 9 to 12+ months
Note: individual timelines vary, and comorbid conditions affect recovery.
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Multiple viewpoints
- Supporters point to Lillard's competitive instincts, his shooting mechanics, and the fact that modern surgical techniques and rehab programs have enabled players to return to high performance after Achilles injuries.
- Skeptics note the player's age, the cumulative wear from years of heavy offensive usage, and the unpredictable effects when combined with the previous blood clot episode.
- Front office executives who watched the Bucks' salary math argue that Milwaukee's decision to stretch his deal was pragmatic, and that for Portland the low‑cost reunion is a low risk, high reward proposition.
What the near future looks like
Realistically, the next 12 to 18 months will focus on rehabilitation, gradual ramping of basketball activity, and clearer signals from training camp and pre‑season work. Lillard's involvement at Weber State and his All‑Star Weekend performance have changed the conversation from one of pure decline to one of managed comeback, and they give both fans and evaluators tangible data points to monitor.
What to watch
- Medical updates and milestone reports from Portland and independent physicians
- Summer and pre‑season on‑court activity, including shooting sessions and contact drills
- Portland's roster construction and coaching plan for integrating Lillard if and when he is ready
- Lillard's off‑court projects, which may grow if playing time remains limited
Final read
Damian Lillard's story entering 2026 is both familiar and new. He remains the same clutch shooter and cultural figure who defined an era in Portland, yet his path has zigged into rehabilitation, a homecoming contract, and a civic role at Weber State. The narrative now blends recovery, mentorship, and the slow calibration of expectation, and it will be measured day by day by doctors, coaches, and fans. If anything, Lillard's choices show a player intent on controlling the next phase of his life, and doing it on his terms, while he and the people around him decide how much of his game remains to be written.