Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard Navigates Achilles Recovery After 2025 Playoffs Injury

Damian Lillard, a nine-time NBA All-Star, suffered a devastating Achilles tendon tear during the 2025 NBA Playoffs while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, an injury expected to sideline him for the entire 2025-26 season. Despite the severity, Lillard has maintained a strong mental outlook, emphasizing that he never felt self-pity and immediately focused on recovery, inspired by conversations with other athletes who overcame similar injuries. After being bought out by the Bucks, he returned to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he began his career, now taking on a veteran leadership role despite his physical absence. Lillard described the recovery as a significant mental battle, one he is determined to win, and has been open about the emotional challenges during press conferences. His return to Portland is seen as a sentimental homecoming and a boost for the team's future, even though his on-court contributions will be limited initially. Throughout this journey, Lillard's resilience and positive mindset have been central to his approach to rehabilitation and his continued impact on the Blazers organization.