Damien Lillard has been diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon and will undergo surgery, the Milwaukee Bucks confirmed.
This catastrophic injury not only ends Damien Lillard’s current playoff run, but also puts the entire 2025/26 season at risk as the recovery timeline has been extended.
The Starpoint Guard tried to keep the offensive rebound alive when Game 4 of Game 4, 129-103 on Sunday night, was injured by the Indiana Pacers in a contactless situation.
Lillard collapsed to the floor while trying to catch a rebound. He had to enter the locker room from the court without putting any weight on his left foot.
The injury brings another serious blow to the Bucks’ playoff hopes.
Without the second star, the possibility of mounting a Milwaukee comeback looks slimmer.
NBA fans on social media gathered around Lillard with messages of support and encouragement for his recovery.
“Love Love. I know that God gives his strongest warrior the toughest challenge and that you have an entire Bucks community praying for your recovery,” the message read.
“I appreciate your efforts.
Many fans also note that both of these two veteran stars who painted the parallels between Lillard’s injuries and Kyrie Irving’s season-ending injury with the Dallas Mavericks, defining the same NBA era, both on the sidelines.
Timing finds it particularly cruel for Lillard, who has faced repeated obstacles in search of playoff success throughout his career.
The injury represents yet another off-rail opportunity to compete in full force in the postseason.
“This is an unfortunate situation. I really like the dam game as a player and the characters from the court. In his later years he gets injured and sucks that he can’t compete in the playoffs in perfect health.”
Some speculative fans even suggest that the injury might encourage the Bucks to consider trading Giannis Antetocompo.
Last season, the Bucks were eliminated by the Pacers in the first round, with Lillard appearing in only four of the six games.
With Milwaukee facing elimination without star guard, organizations now have to face both immediate playoff challenges and long-term questions regarding the championship window.