The Unfortunate Turn in Damian Lillard's Career

Damian Lillard was once the epitome of loyalty in the NBA, a league often marked by players jumping ship to chase championships. Year after year, Lillard remained steadfast with the Portland Trail Blazers, even as his peers rallied together on star-studded teams. In a glaring example of doubt towards Portland’s potential, Kevin Durant famously dismissed the championship dreams of Lillard’s teammate, CJ McCollum. Despite this, Lillard remained committed, hoping for a title with Portland by means of traditional dedication and hard work. Sadly, apart from an unexpected journey to the Western Conference finals, Lillard never got close.

Eventually, Lillard ventured into the realm of player empowerment, seeking his own path with the Miami Heat. He must have thought he would join the ranks of other stars who maneuvered themselves to preferred teams. However, fate had other plans. The Blazers turned down Miami’s proposal and Lillard was instead traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Initially, this didn’t seem disastrous. After all, joining forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo provided a new opportunity, or so it seemed.

Unfortunately, the dynamics in Milwaukee weren’t as promising as anticipated. Adrian Griffin, the coach endorsed by Antetokounmpo before Lillard arrived, proved ill-prepared for the role and was fired just after 44 games. Adding to the challenges, Lillard’s former coach, Terry Stotts, departed the team following disagreements with Griffin before the 2023-24 season even started. Teammates like Khris Middleton struggled to stay fit, while Brook Lopez, the key defensive player, was visibly declining. The team fell out in the first round to the Indiana Pacers.

Facing Indiana once again in the current season’s first round, it seemed Lillard was on course for a repeat disappointment. Strikingly, less than six weeks earlier, Lillard had been sidelined with a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, a serious condition often setting players back for extensive periods. Against the odds, Lillard defied expectations, making a surprising return for Game 2 against Indiana.

Despite pushing to aid his team, the results were heartbreaking. During Game 4, Lillard, attempting an offensive rebound, collapsed and clutched his lower left leg. The grim prognosis suggested a torn Achilles, as the Bucks’ coach, Doc Rivers, acknowledged the severity post-game.

This injury lacked a direct link to his earlier calf issue, apart from the potential impact of reduced fitness from inactivity. Had Lillard prioritized a cautious recovery, he might not have been on the court during that fateful game.

Rivers expressed his empathy, saying, “The guy tried to come back for his team. I just felt bad for him. This is a tough one. Blood clot followed by this. It’s just tough. He’s just such a great dude – on a basketball level, but more importantly as a teammate and as a father and all that stuff. Nobody deserves it, but golly, you just look at him – and that’s why I feel bad. It’s just tough.”

Lillard’s basketball journey isn’t concluded. Players have rebounded from an Achilles tear, though few regain their complete prowess afterward. Lillard, a swift and dynamic guard, faces a tougher road than larger players like Durant or Wilkins. At 34, the odds mirror those who faced similar setbacks at this age; Kobe Bryant’s skills diminished after his Achilles tear, as did Chauncey Billups’.

Instances of rapid recovery do exist; Wes Matthews Jr., a former teammate of Lillard, returned relatively quickly but was never quite the same on the court. Meanwhile, the more typical approach sees players like Durant and Thompson taking a full year to recover.

Should Lillard be absent from the court for a year, he’d aim to rejoin the Bucks as a 36-year-old in 2026, potentially with a reshaped squad. With questions about Antetokounmpo’s championship aspirations, the Bucks might not wait on Lillard’s return.

Lillard’s future playing style could evolve differently, potentially in a reduced capacity, but not without worth. His shooting remains elite, and while the game might shift, his value is undeniable. There’s hope for more memorable basketball moments from Lillard. He surely deserves a more uplifting finale to his career than the present situation hints at.