Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard grimaces as he falls to the ground in opposition to the Indiana Pacers through the first half of Sport 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff sequence Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Picture/Jeffrey Phelps)
Damian Lillard’s resolve is excessive simply two days after an excruciating torn left Achilles tendon knocked him out of the remainder of this season’s playoffs.
Lillard spoke with Bucks coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday and made a vow that the devastating harm is not going to shorten his stellar NBA profession.
“He stated two issues, which I like,” Rivers instructed reporters previous to Sport 5 of the first-round sequence with the Indiana Pacers. “The primary one, he simply stated ‘I can’t consider I’m right here.’ Then the second is ‘I’m not going out this fashion.’
READ: NBA: Bucks affirm Damian Lillard has torn left Achilles tendon
“I can assure you he received’t, and that’s what I meant about his resolve.”
Lillard turns 35 on July 15 and is going through an extended rehab from the Achilles harm to return to high basketball kind. A timeline hasn’t been formally set, however he would possible miss a big chunk of the 2025-26 season and probably all of it.
Lillard was harm within the first quarter of Sunday’s 129-103 loss in Sport 4 in simply his third sport again after coping with a blood clot in his proper calf. He missed the ultimate 14 video games of the common season and the primary contest of this playoff sequence in opposition to the Pacers.
A protracted rebound got here his approach halfway by way of the primary quarter and the Achilles gave out simply as Lillard was tapping the ball ahead. He instantly grabbed his decrease leg and was ultimately helped off the court docket.
Seemingly, the severity of the harm would simply be sinking in. However Lillard is already enthusiastic about his return to the game.
READ: NBA: Damian Lillard out indefinitely with blood clot in calf
“It’s wonderful,” Rivers stated. “He’s already speaking about his return and being higher and being prepared. We had an extended discuss that immediately as properly.”
A nine-time All-Star, Lillard averaged 24.9 factors, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 58 regular-season video games throughout his second marketing campaign with the Bucks. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Portland Path Blazers.
Lillard has profession averages of 25.1 factors, 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 900 regular-season contests. His 2,804 3-pointers rank fourth in NBA historical past.
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Indiana leads the sequence 3-1 and might clinch it with a victory on Wednesday.
