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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)— It seems that Damian Lillard has made a full circle back to where he began.
On Thursday, a source familiar with the situation informed The Associated Press that Lillard has agreed to a three-year contract valued at $42 million to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers. The individual spoke on the condition of anonymity as the deal has yet to be officially revealed. ESPN was the first to break the news.
Lillard, who is 35, was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Trail Blazers, where he spent 11 seasons before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks shortly before the start of the 2023-24 season.
Yet, it may not be quite “Lillard Time” in Portland for the athlete famous for gesturing towards his wrist after crucial baskets.
Lillard suffered a torn left Achilles tendon during a first-round playoff matchup against the Indiana Pacers, which necessitated surgery and could potentially sideline him for the entirety of the 2025-26 season. Earlier this month, the Bucks had waived him and allocated the remaining $113 million on his contract over the span of five years.
RipCityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!@trailblazerspic.twitter.com/x3jnZr1s0G
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 17, 2025
In the last season, Lillard finished 10th in the league in both scoring (24.9 points) and assists (7.1), earning his ninth selection to the All-Star Game. However, he played just 58 games due to deep vein thrombosis.
Confirming the agreement, Lillard shared a video on Instagram showcasing the Trail Blazers’ locker room, culminating in a shot of a locker bearing his name alongside the caption “Together Again.” He expressed his excitement with the words: “RipCityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!”
In his final season with Portland, Lillard posted an impressive average of 32.2 points per game. He became only the seventh player in NBA history to score over 70 points in a single game, achieving 71 points against the Houston Rockets during that season.
Despite his individual success, Portland managed to win only four playoff series during Lillard’s long stint, making it to the Western Conference finals on just one occasion.
Beloved by fans in Portland, Lillard has always maintained that he parted with the Blazers on good terms. He pursued a championship opportunity with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, while Portland focused on nurturing younger players like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
Lillard, who has a signature sneaker line with Adidas, hinted at the company’s North American headquarters in 2024 that he might one day consider returning to the Trail Blazers.
Lillard stands as the franchise’s all-time leader in points (19,376) and three-pointers (2,387) and is the only player in Trail Blazers history to have scored 70 or more points in a single game, with five games surpassing 60 points.
Over his career, Lillard has averaged 25.1 points and 6.7 assists. He was voted NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013 and made the league’s 75th Anniversary team in 2021. He also earned a gold medal as part of Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.
