Damian Lillard has made his return to the Portland Trail Blazers after a lengthy 16-month rehabilitation from a torn left Achilles tendon he suffered during the playoffs two seasons ago. The nine-time All-Star aims to prove his doubters wrong, recalling how a television pundit speculated that the injury would end his career.
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Reflecting on the moment he was injured, Lillard noted, "I remember...they were saying, ‘This is the last of Dame Lillard as we know it.’" This motivated him to push through the recovery process, stating, "I’m somebody that gets up and I’m gonna fight the fight every time."
In July 2025, Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million deal to rejoin the Blazers, having previously played two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. During his last season with the Bucks, he averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists but was limited to 58 games due to deep vein thrombosis. His Achilles injury occurred during the first round of the playoffs against Indiana.
The Blazers find themselves in transition as they also adjust to the ownership of Tom Dundon, who took control midway through last season. The team recently laid off over 70 staff members. Tiago Splitter, who led the team to the playoffs last season after Chauncey Billups' arrest, has moved on to coach the Chicago Bulls, with former Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori hired as the new head coach.
In the offseason, the Blazers traded for two-time All-Star Ja Morant, adding depth to their point guard position alongside Lillard, Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday. The blend of Lillard and Morant in the backcourt has raised questions about how they will work together. During a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, both players logged 19 minutes, with Lillard scoring 15 points and Morant contributing eight points and five assists.
Lillard is confident that their roles will complement each other, emphasizing the team’s potential with multiple scoring options. "If I get the ball and I’m advancing it to Ja Morant, I feel pretty good about it," he stated, highlighting the collaborative potential of the team's guards.
Morant, who has averaged 22.4 points for his career but faced challenges with injuries and suspensions over the last three seasons, shares Lillard's desire to succeed and feels a responsibility to support his teammate. "My job is to just try to make his job easier... I don’t think that’s a problem at all," Morant commented.
At 36 years old, Lillard reports feeling fully healthy and believes he no longer has to carry the team as he once did. He stated, "I’m capable of doing whatever I need to do. But at this stage, I don’t think I need to kill myself in the regular season... I don’t think it should be necessary for me to have to play 35 minutes." He remains prepared to contribute as needed.