TL;DR
- Damian Lillard questioned if he could play his last college season at Weber State due to remaining eligibility.
- NCAA rules likely prevent Lillard from returning to college basketball due to his professional earnings.
- Lillard has earned over $360 million in NBA salaries, exceeding "actual and necessary expenses."
- He is currently sidelined with a torn Achilles and recovering to rejoin the Trail Blazers.
Could Dame Time be on the clock for the NCAA?
The notion was put forth on Tuesday in a social media update by Portland Trail Blazers icon Damian Lillard, though it's unlikely.
With a torn Achilles sidelining him, Lillard currently has some free time. It appears he's been engaged in brainstorming.
On X, he wrote: "So because I have a year of eligibility left… does that mean I can go back and play my last season at Weber State before I retire from basketball?"
Well, as much as this sounds fun, there's probably a holdup.
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Is it possible for Damian Lillard to play basketball again at Weber State?
As the current rules are written, Lillard couldn't do this.
Indeed, some athletes have transitioned from the G League back to playing Division I basketball. However, NCAA regulations specify what an athlete may receive using the term "actual and necessary expenses" while still preserving their college eligibility.
Lillard has earned more than $360 million in NBA salaries in his career. Even in the NIL era, the NCAA would not deem that as covering just "actual and necessary expenses."
If Lillard aimed to conceal his identity and adopt the name Fabian Dillard, he might stand a chance.
If Lillard doesn't get his way, he'll have to be content with recovering his health and rejoining the Trail Blazers' lineup.
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