Damian Lillard is now in the spotlight for reasons no player wants to be: injuries. After recently coming back from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, which threatened to end his season, Lillard suffered another apparent leg injury.
In the first quarter of Game 4 against the Pacers, the Bucks’ point guard went down, holding his leg. Once a hallmark for durability and longevity within the league, the nine-time All-Star has struggled with injuries since 2021.
For much of Lillard’s career, he stayed healthy with only minor injuries causing him to miss games. His first major injury came back in 2021, when an abdominal issue dealt him consistent pain.
At first, the Bucks’ star point guard tried to play through the pain, but it was clear this required more attention. A month’s break was taken to try and address this issue, but once Lillard returned to play, so did the pain. Early in 2022, Portland’s franchise player underwent surgery to resolve this issue for good, leaving him sidelined for at least six weeks.
The surgery was a success, although he did miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season, including 47 games. The following year, Lillard returned to the Blazers squad like he never left, averaging 32.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds.
The next major injury did not occur until this year on the Bucks. A diagnosis of a deep vein thrombosis on March 25th put the rest of #0’s season in question. Lillard ultimately resumed play in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs, missing the last 14 games of the regular season and Game 1.
His return this time around was not explosive as his last, but Milwaukee fans were happy to have him back in rotation. Unfortunately, this was short-lived as many fear Lillard tore his left Achilles in the first quarter of Game 4 against the Pacers last night.
This leg injury could not have come at a worse time. Down 3-1 to the Pacers, it does not look hopeful for the Bucks’ postseason play. Since Milwaukee’s championship run in 2021, the team has struggled with key player injuries and underwhelming playoff performances.
With another first-round exit likely, the franchise’s future and Lillard’s are in question. There are rumors that Giannis Antetokounmpo wants out, unhappy with the postseason results despite putting up MVP-grade numbers. The franchise also does not have a first-round draft pick without a swap clause until 2031, and it will not have any draft picks in 2028 or 2029.
The future is not looking bright in Milwaukee. With their star power forward possibly leaving, Lillard may not want to stick around either. The 34-year-old point guard is exiting his prime, but still has much to offer. Still on the hunt for his first championship, the Olympic gold medalist is running out of time to be built around.
Lillard has proven himself to be one of the best point guards in the league, consistently delivering clutch shots and posting absurd stat lines throughout his career. Would a championship-less career hinder his resume for being one of the best PGs to play the game? Two things are certain: injuries and a less-than-ideal team situation make his future in the NBA uncertain.
No one likes to see players suffer injuries, much less two big injuries one right after the other. With Lillard turning 35 this summer, “Dame time” may be running out. I, for one, hope he can find a favorable team situation where he can contribute to a championship run. This offseason will be a big decider in the rest of his career.
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