Damian Lillard is headed back to the franchise that drafted him. One week before hosting his annual youth camp at a YMCA in Beaverton, Oregon, the 35-year-old guard agreed to a three-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, ending a two-season stint with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Homecoming confirmed
More than 400 children, ages 6 to 16, attended the late-July camp wearing a mix of Milwaukee green and Portland rose jerseys. This time, their most common question—“So, when are you coming home?”—had already been answered.
“I never wanted to leave,” Lillard told reporters during an introductory news conference at Moda Center. General manager Joe Cronin echoed the sentiment, saying, “It never felt right seeing Damian in a different jersey.” Head coach Chauncey Billups sat alongside them.
Contract details and recovery timeline
The new agreement includes a no-trade clause, a player option in 2027 and allows Lillard to spend the entire 2025-26 season rehabbing if necessary. The nine-time All-Star tore his left Achilles in Game 4 of the 2025 first round and had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf on Mar. 25, 2025. He will be 36 when he is first eligible to play for Portland again.
How the reunion materialized
Lillard’s relationship with Portland cooled after he requested a trade in the summer of 2023, hoping to join the Miami Heat. With no deal reached, the Blazers sent him to Milwaukee one week before training camp that September. Despite averaging 24.6 points and 7.0 assists across 131 games with the Bucks, the team failed to win a playoff series.
The Bucks’ plans changed after Lillard’s Achilles injury. Seeking roster flexibility and room to sign center Myles Turner, Milwaukee waived Lillard and stretched the remaining $113 million on his contract. Cronin visited Lillard at his Portland home shortly afterward, and both sides quickly agreed on a path forward.
Imagem: espn.com
Looking ahead
Lillard has begun shooting drills—sometimes on one leg or from a seated position—and says he is ahead of schedule. He has consulted fellow Achilles patients Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay, as well as NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, to prepare for the mental and physical challenges of recovery. “I expect to return to form,” Lillard said, adding that he will not rush the process.
The Blazers retain their 2026 first-round pick, giving both player and team little incentive to accelerate his comeback. Until then, Lillard plans to mentor Portland’s young core, including guard Scoot Henderson, while targeting a full return in 2026-27.
Source: ESPN
