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• Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard: Not expected to play this season

  09/25/2025 • By RotoWire

  Lillard (Achilles) won't be back on the court for the 2025-26 season, as he made clear during an interview with YouTube influencer iShowSpeed on Wednesday. Lillard underwent surgery on a torn Achilles tendon in his left foot over the summer after suffering the injury during the first round of the NBA playoffs with the Bucks against the Pacers. The veteran guard was then waived by Milwaukee on July 1, making him an unrestricted free agent. The future Hall of Famer then decided to return to the Blazers on a three-year contract worth $42 million with a player option for the 2027-28 season. He also has a no-trade clause in his deal.

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• Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard: Expected to sign with Portland

  07/17/2025 • By RotoWire

  Lillard (Achilles) is finalizing a three-year contract with the Trail Blazers, NBA reporter Chris Haynes reports. Lillard suffered a torn Achilles tendon April 27 during the NBA playoffs, resulting in him being ruled out for the rest of the postseason. The Bucks then shockingly waived the veteran superstar July 1 to bring in Myles Turner in free agency. There was speculation that Lillard was of interest to several teams as a free agent, but he ultimately decided to return to where it all began in Portland. It remains to be seen whether he'll play during the 2025-26 campaign or sit out to be fresh for the 2026-27 NBA season. Lillard's deal will be worth $42 million with a player option for the 2027-28 season and will also include a no-trade clause, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

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• Damian Lillard: Waived by Milwaukee

  07/01/2025 • By RotoWire

  The Bucks waived Lillard (Achilles) on Tuesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. After managing to pry Myles Turner away from Indiana with a four-year, $107 million deal, the Bucks made another huge splash by waiving their superstar point guard, who is currently recovering from a torn Achilles. Charania reports that the Bucks found a creative way to waive Lillard by stretching out the remainder of his $113 million contract over five years. With Lillard set to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season, he'll now have to seek opportunities elsewhere.

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• Bucks' Damian Lillard: Tears Achilles, out for season

  04/28/2025 • By RotoWire

  Lillard has been diagnosed with a left torn Achilles tendon, NBA reporter Chris Haynes reports. During Game 4 against the Pacers on Sunday, Lillard went down with a left leg injury after logging only six minutes. Although many speculated that it could be an Achilles tear, it wasn't officially confirmed until Monday, resulting in the superstar guard being forced to miss the rest of the NBA playoffs and potentially missing most, if not all, of next season. The postseason campaign comes to an end for the veteran guard after playing three games, averaging 7.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game across 25.0 minutes per contest.

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• Bucks' Damian Lillard: Slated for MRI

  04/28/2025 • By RotoWire

  Lillard is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his left lower leg Monday, Tim Reynolds of Associated Press reports. Lillard sustained what appeared to be a serious injury with just over six minutes left in the first quarter of the Bucks' 129-103 loss to the Pacers in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series. After the game, head coach Doc Rivers said Lillard's prognosis is "not very promising," with all signs pointing to the veteran point guard having sustained a torn left Achilles tendon. An official diagnosis will be provided once the results of the MRI are available, but Lillard appears highly unlikely to play in Tuesday's Game 5, and his availability for the rest of the playoffs and potentially the start of the 2025-26 season could be in jeopardy. Kevin Porter started at point guard in the second half of Sunday's contest, and he and Ryan Rollins should be in store for expanded roles out of the backcourt if Lillard misses time.

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