We are not about to uncover Damian Lillard’s talent at this stage, but rather his restlessness, resilience, and the will to leave the NBA only when he chooses and while remaining at the absolute pinnacle. Are we overreacting? Well, he deserves it.
At 36, and after 18 months sidelined by an Achilles tendon rupture, the All-NBA point guard returned last night not only to the court but also to wearing the Portland Trail Blazers uniform, the team he left in the summer of 2023 to join the Milwaukee Bucks.
The anticipation was immense, since it was not only about having him back, but about seeing to what extent he could still be the same player who left. Well, he cleared that doubt with 25 points in 24 minutes (6 of 10 from long range) as he led a crushing 124-83 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
«I felt good, though, as I’ve been saying for months, I’ve been feeling this way. I suppose some could have had doubts because they hadn’t seen me; I hadn’t been on the court or in front of the crowd», he comments.
As expected, Lillard did not lack support at the Moda Center, where he was greeted with a big ovation before addressing the fans from the center of the floor. «I’ve received a lot of affection. The fans have shown me great warmth. It’s no secret the bond that exists between us, the fans, and the city of Portland», he notes.
Ja Morant Is Amazed by Damian Lillard
We saw Lillard play well, but his teammate, Damian Lillard, was literally impressed to see him play. Here is how he explains it. «It’s incredible: the guy had been out for 18 months and yet he steps onto the court and performs at the level he showed today. It’s something special, really,» he states.
Let us recall that Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Blazers in July 2025 after two seasons with the Bucks. Previously, he had spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Oregon organization.
