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Is Damian Lillard playing this season? Trail Blazers legend came home in trade but deals with injury news
TL;DR
Damian Lillard has returned to the Portland Trail Blazers after a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks but is currently sidelined due to injury. While the team is in the playoffs, Lillard is unable to play and is serving as a mentor.
Key points
- Damian Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers after a trade.
- He is currently sidelined due to injury.
- Lillard is mentoring the team during the playoffs.
Mentioned in this story
Damian LillardGiannis Antetokounmpo
Portland Trail BlazersMilwaukee Bucks
Is Damian Lillard playing this season? Trail Blazers legend came home in trade but deals with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Damian Lillard is back in Portland.
The Trail Blazers made sure of that in the offseason when they acquired the legendary point guard from the Milwaukee Bucks.
After his detour to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo for a few seasons, the Blazers brought Lillard back to the place where most of his NBA story had been written.
Lillard, though, hasn't been playing. The Blazers are in the playoffs, but Lillard can only be a mentor right now.
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Is Damian Lillard playing this season?
No, Lillard isn't playing in the 2025-26 season at all. That's already been made official.
He tore his Achilles playing in the 2025 playoffs for the Bucks.
While that's not an impossible injury to come back from in a year's time, the Blazers decided at Lillard's age that it'd be better to let him take this entire season off.
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Q&A
Is Damian Lillard injured this season?
Yes, Damian Lillard is currently dealing with an injury and is unable to play this season.
Why did Damian Lillard return to the Trail Blazers?
Damian Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers after being traded from the Milwaukee Bucks, where he had played for a few seasons.
What role is Damian Lillard playing for the Trail Blazers in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Damian Lillard is serving as a mentor for the Trail Blazers while he is sidelined due to injury.
