The Portland Trail Blazers selected Damian Lillard with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
He immediately paid dividends, winning Rookie of the Year with averages of 19 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.3 treys per game. Lillard then played 10 years with the Trail Blazers, was named an All-Star seven times and was in the MVP conversation five of those seasons.
Lillard was Mr. Trail Blazer and clocks were set to Dame Time in the Northwest.
After eight straight playoff appearances, the wheels came off in Portland, as the team went from 42-30 to well below sub-.500. At age 33, Lillard wanted to win while the Trail Blazers were in a different dimension. As a result, the franchise traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks. Lillard laced up the sneakers on a different home court for the first time in his career.
He paired up with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the dynamic duo elevated the Bucks offense to new heights. The offensive rating was 118.4, the highest since Antetokounmpo entered the league. For perspective, the Bucks were around 115 without Lillard. The defense, though, was also adversely affected, as the defensive rating spiked to 115.8 from the 111 range. Higher number is no bueno.
That said, the Bucks still finished with a 49-33 record but were bounced in the first round of the playoffs.
Last season, Lillard only played 58 games due to a calf issue. He returned for the playoffs but then tore his Achilles tendon. The Bucks waived Lillard on July 6, buying out the remaining $103 million left on his deal.
On July 17, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Lillard will be returning to where it all began: Portland, for three years and $42 million.
From a basketball perspective, it’s an interesting signing. Lillard will likely be out for the entire 2025-26 season and, when he returns, he will be 36 years old. Portland just acquired Jrue Holiday, who is 35 years old and has three years remaining on his contract, the final year being a player option.
Scoot Henderson is 21 years old and was the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Henderson should benefit tremendously from the wisdom that Lillard and Holiday can espouse. The minutes and playing time, though, won’t be robust, but maybe that is the best thing for his development.
Portland has a nice, young core, but it isn’t a contender yet. In a few years? This could be a very dangerous team.
From a non-basketball perspective, bringing Lillard back to Portland so that he can retire a Trail Blazer with a farewell season planned out? That is pretty cool.
