NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — As Damian Lillard drove home with his children after signing his contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, a profound realization struck him.
He was truly coming home.
This past weekend, Lillard was joined by his three kids—Damian Jr., aged 7, and his 4-year-old twins, Kalii and Kali—as he finalized a three-year, $42 million agreement with the Blazers. The deal incorporates a no-trade clause and provides him the option to opt out after two seasons.
“Understanding that I’ll be back home for every aspect of my life—raising my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving along the familiar streets I’ve navigated throughout my adulthood, and having my family here, including my mom, brother, sisters, and friends in Portland—means everything to me,” Lillard stated. “I didn’t expect this to come about so quickly.”
Lillard shared his first public remarks regarding the contract during a press conference on Monday night alongside Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and general manager Joe Cronin.
@Dame_Lillard’s affection for Rip City runs profoundly deep ❤️
A thread ⤵️pic.twitter.com/ceMvTxEA78
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers)July 22, 2025
Having spent the first 11 seasons of his NBA career with the Blazers, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks at his own request before the 2023-24 season commenced.
A nine-time All-Star, the 35-year-old is cherished in Portland, famously signaling “Dame Time” by pointing to his wrist after clutch shots.
However, he won’t be returning to the court at the Moda Center anytime soon.
Lillard sustained a torn left Achilles tendon during a first-round playoff matchup against the Indiana Pacers, necessitating surgery that will likely keep him sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.
Earlier this month, the Bucks waived him and restructured the remaining $113 million of his contract over a five-year period.
“I told him he’ll be the highest-paid assistant coach in history this year because I plan to put in the work daily,” Billups remarked.
While Lillard didn’t entirely dismiss the possibility of returning to play this season, Cronin indicated that the team would take as much time as needed regarding his recovery.
“My pride might suggest a different approach, but as I’ve aged, I’ve gained wisdom,” Lillard explained. “As Joe mentioned, it’s essential to prioritize what’s best for me, and taking the necessary time to ensure I’m fully healed is crucial.”
Last season, Lillard ranked 10th in the league in both scoring (24.9 points) and assists (7.1), earning his ninth All-Star nod despite being limited to 58 games due to deep vein thrombosis.
He achieved a career-high average of 32.2 points in his final season in Portland, making history as the seventh player in NBA history to score over 70 points in a game, finishing with 71 against the Houston Rockets.
During Lillard’s time, the Blazers only advanced through four playoff series and reached the Western Conference Finals once.
He has consistently maintained that there are no ill feelings regarding his departure from the Blazers. He sought the chance to contend for a championship alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, while Portland’s focus shifted toward developing young talents like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
Lillard, who has a signature shoe deal with Adidas, had suggested during a 2024 event at the company’s North American headquarters that he might consider a return to the Blazers, though he never anticipated an injury would accelerate his timeline.
Selected as the sixth overall pick by Portland in the 2012 draft, Lillard holds franchise records for points (19,376) and three-pointers (2,387), including five games with over 60 points during his time with the team.
For his career, Lillard boasts averages of 25.1 points and 6.7 assists. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013 and made it onto the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team in 2021. He also clinched a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Lillard shared that during their drive home, his children finally grasped the importance of his return.
“At a stoplight, I turned around and said to my daughter, and she asked me, ‘Wait, so we don’t have to fly to Milwaukee anymore?’” Lillard recounted.
