The Milwaukee Bucks shocked the league this summer by waiving and stretching the remainder of Damian Lillard’s $113 million contract following his torn Achilles.
To create the necessary cap space to sign former rival Myles Turner, the Bucks waived Lillard, agreeing to pay out his contract over the next five seasons. The superstar point guard suffered the devastating Achilles injury in Milwaukee’s first-round playoff exit to the Indiana Pacers, with the Bucks ultimately parting ways with the 35-year-old in an attempt to remain competitive in the 2025-26 campaign.
The Bucks’ decision led Lillard to return to the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year, $41.6 million deal. The nine-time All-Star is expected to serve as a mentor to the team’s young guards in the 2025-26 season, and he recently revealed his timeline for a return in a livestream with YouTube star IShowSpeed.
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Damian Lillard announces return plans
IShowSpeed, who currently boasts 44.3 million subscribers on YouTube, visited Portland on Wednesday and worked out with Lillard. During the session, the star point guard shared when fans can expect him back on the court for the Trail Blazers.
“S—, probably the start of next season. That Achilles, you can’t f— around with that. I just got to get all the way right,” Lillard said.
The Trail Blazers aren’t positioned to contend for a title, so there’s no reason for Lillard to rush back from an injury that has proven to be career-altering for players in the past. While it doesn’t come as a surprise that he’s expected to miss the entire season, fans now have a clearer idea of when to expect Lillard back.
Lillard spent the first 11 years of his career with the Trail Blazers and was traded to the Bucks in September 2023. In his two seasons in Milwaukee, the team failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs, with Lillard averaging 24.6 points, 7.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 35.7 minutes per game in 131 regular-season appearances.
For now, he will focus on his recovery ahead of the 2026-27 campaign and serve as a veteran leader in Portland.
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