Damien Lillard spoke about returning to the Portland Trail Blazers and appeared to be digging into the Milwaukee Bucks.
One of the biggest surprises of this offseason came when the Milwaukee Bucks abandoned Damian Lillard to sign Miles Turner.
Lillard suffered a horrible Achilles injury in the playoffs and is unavailable for the 2025-26 NBA season. With a limited window to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy, the Bucks pulled the trigger with a big move.
Despite some serious suitors coming in his path, Damien Lillard chose to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, signing a player’s option and a three-year contract.
Lillard went to Portland for his family. He settled there between 2012 and 2023 during his first stint.
For Damien Lillard, home was a place of heart. And it seems Milwaukee never had a heart as he hinted at feeling like a Bucks outsider.
Damien Lillard spoke at the official return press conference in Portland. When talking about the decision to return, he thanked Portland Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncy Billup.
Lillard admitted that he never felt right to leave Portland, suggesting some discomfort between him and the Bucks in Milwaukee. In the end, Lillard is pleased to be back where his NBA journey began.
“I would like to thank Joe (Cronin) and Chauncey (Billups) because in order for this to be possible, we all had to be on the same page about it.
“Like they said, it never felt like we weren’t home. Through it all, I found my way home. Like I said, I’m lucky enough to be back in the group I was with before I left. To be part of the wonderful situation in the home.
“I’m just excited, thankful, and I’m grateful that the door is open for me to come back, even if I’m injured.”
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncy Billup also spoke at the press conference. Looking back at his exit, he admitted that the Trail Blazers didn’t want to let go of Lillard. Despite his injuries, Lillard greatly helps Bill Up as he returns.
“I don’t think we obviously wanted to see him go if we were all honest.
“This year, he told him he would be the highest paid assistant coach in league history.”
The Trail Blazers were really fortunate and managed to get Lillard back. Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin should thank Deandre Ayton for giving $10 million in the acquisition to create the non-tax MLE used to sign Lillard.
He’s not a Trail Blazers feature this season, but hopefully he will play the role of mentorship for some of the team’s young stars.
Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, Yang Hansen and others have shown many promises, and multiple-time All-Star Lillard can help him achieve his potential with heart-pounding advice.