Damian Lillard’s 2024–25 season turned into a medical odyssey that few players endure: a blood clot, a torn Achilles, a surgery, a waiver, and a return to the team where he spent his first 11 years. The Trail Blazers legend is now on a new contract in Portland, but fans won’t see him on the floor until at least the 2026–27 season.

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NBA All-Star selections: 9 ·
All-NBA Team selections: 7 ·
Team: Portland Trail Blazers ·
Height / Weight: 6′ 2″ / 200 lbs ·
Birthdate: 7/15/1990 (age 36) ·
College: Weber State

Quick snapshot

1Injury Status
2Career Highlights
3Contract & Trade
4Personal Life
  • Separation from wife reported in 2024
  • No official statement on reasons
  • Maintains privacy on personal matters

The table below lays out Lillard’s core biographical and career facts.

Key biographical and career facts
Attribute Detail
Full name Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr.
Date of birth July 15, 1990
Height / weight 6′ 2″ / 200 lbs
NBA team Portland Trail Blazers
All-Star appearances 9
All-NBA selections 7
College Weber State
Current contract (last) 3 years, ~$42-45M (Portland Trail Blazers)
Latest injury Torn left Achilles (April 27, 2025)

How long is Damian Lillard out for?

Timeline of Lillard’s absence

Lillard will miss at least one full season after the Achilles tear, with a comeback window roughly 18 months from surgery. That means no Lillard on an NBA court until the fall of 2026.

What has happened to Damian Lillard?

Injury incident

  • Blood clot scare: deep vein thrombosis in right calf, March 2025 (The Athletic (NBA insider coverage)).
  • After being cleared, he returned for the playoffs and played Games 1-3 of the first round (NBA.com (team status report)).
  • In Game 4, he suffered a non-contact lower-leg injury that turned out to be a torn Achilles (NBA.com (league official updates)).

Trade and contract developments

  • The Milwaukee Bucks waived Lillard in July 2025 after the Achilles injury (USA Today (NBA transaction reporting)).
  • He quickly agreed to a three-year deal worth roughly $42-45 million to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers (The Athletic (NBA contract insider)).

“The Bucks announced on April 28, 2025 that an MRI revealed a torn left Achilles tendon and that Lillard would miss the remainder of the 2025 playoffs.”

— Milwaukee Bucks (team medical announcement)

The implication: what started as a manageable blood clot turned into a catastrophic Achilles tear that reshaped Lillard’s career path—from Bucks playoff hopes to a Blazers reunion.

When can Damian Lillard play again?

Return date speculation

Team and medical clearance factors

  • The Blazers have not issued an official timeline beyond “rehab and recovery.”
  • Achilles tears typically require 9-12 months before a player can return to game action; Lillard’s surgery date (reportedly May 2, 2025) points to a 2026-27 readiness if all goes well.

The pattern: Lillard will be 36 when the 2026-27 season tips off. His return will be closely watched, but the Blazers are building around a younger core and Lillard’s role may shift to mentorship.

Do the Bucks still owe Damian Lillard money?

Contract breakdown and waiver status

  • The Bucks waived Lillard in July 2025 after the Achilles injury (USA Today (NBA transaction reporting)).
  • Waiving him terminated any future salary obligations; the Bucks do not owe Lillard any remaining money.
  • His new contract is with the Portland Trail Blazers: a three-year deal worth roughly $42 million to $45 million (The Athletic (NBA contract insider); Portland Tribune (local sports reporting)).

The catch: Lillard gave up the remainder of his Bucks contract to become a free agent, but secured a guaranteed deal back in Portland—albeit at a lower annual value than his previous supermax.

Why did Damian Lillard’s wife leave him?

  • Reports of a separation emerged in 2024, but no official statement has been released by Lillard or his ex-wife.
  • The reasons for the split remain private; Lillard has not addressed the matter publicly.

The pattern: Lillard has always kept his personal life tightly guarded. Without an official comment, any speculation about the cause is just that—speculation.

Timeline signal

  • : Born in Oakland, California
  • : Drafted 6th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers
  • : Signs 4-year, $196M supermax extension with Portland
  • : Trade requests surface; remains with Blazers
  • : Traded to Milwaukee Bucks as part of the Damian Lillard–Jrue Holiday deal
  • : Diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in right calf
  • : Cleared for full basketball activities
  • : Tears left Achilles in playoff Game 4
  • : Undergoes Achilles repair surgery
  • : Waived by Bucks; signs 3-year deal with Trail Blazers
  • : Target return for 2026-27 season

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Lillard was diagnosed with DVT in March 2025 (The Athletic (NBA insider coverage))
  • He was cleared for full basketball activity on April 17, 2025 (USA Today (NBA beat reporting))
  • An MRI on April 28, 2025 confirmed a torn left Achilles (Milwaukee Bucks (team medical announcement))
  • Bucks waived Lillard in July 2025 (USA Today (NBA transaction reporting))
  • He signed a 3-year ~$42-45M contract with Portland (The Athletic (NBA contract insider))

What’s unclear

  • Exact return date after Achilles surgery (2026-27 is projected but not confirmed)
  • Whether the Bucks used a stretch provision on his waived salary (not publicly disclosed)
  • Reasons for his marital separation (no official statement)
  • Long-term role with Blazers after his return (mentorship vs. star play)

Expert quotes on Lillard’s situation

“Damian Lillard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf in March 2025 and was sidelined indefinitely at first.”

— The Athletic (NBA insider coverage)

“The Bucks said on April 17, 2025 that Lillard had been cleared to resume full basketball activities after discontinuing blood-thinning medication.”

— USA Today (NBA beat reporting)

“Coverage in July 2025 said Lillard was expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season while rehabbing the Achilles tear.”

— UPI (sports news wire)

For the Portland Trail Blazers, the decision is clear: rebuild with youth while Lillard rehabs, then integrate him as a veteran leader—or risk a diminished player returning to a team that has moved on. Lillard’s legacy, however, is already secure: he will go down as one of the greatest Blazers ever, regardless of what happens next.

Additional sources

theguardian.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Damian Lillard injured right now?

Yes. He tore his left Achilles tendon on April 27, 2025 and is currently rehabbing from surgery. He is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season.

When did Damian Lillard last play?

His last game was Game 4 of the 2025 first-round playoffs against the Indiana Pacers on April 27, 2025, when he suffered the Achilles injury.

What injury does Damian Lillard have?

A torn left Achilles tendon, diagnosed by MRI on April 28, 2025. He also had a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in his right calf earlier in March 2025.

Will Damian Lillard be traded this season?

No. He was waived by the Bucks in July 2025 and then signed a three-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

How much is Damian Lillard’s current contract worth?

His contract with the Blazers is a three-year deal worth roughly $42 million to $45 million.

Has Damian Lillard ever won an NBA championship?

No, Lillard has not won an NBA championship. He has reached the Western Conference Finals once (2019) and the playoffs multiple times.