Damian Lillard isn’t sugarcoating his road back. In a recent sit-down with IShowSpeed, the guard laid out where he is in rehabbing his torn Achilles and why patience is the name of the game.
“This all I be doing,” Lillard said on Thursday. “I got rehab on my Achilles, I’ve been in the weight room, getting shots up. … Sh*t, probably the start of next season. That Achilles, you can’t f**k around with that. I just got to get all the way right.”
The Damian Lillard story now hinges more on recovery than on scoring. He underwent surgery after tearing his left Achilles during the 2025 NBA Playoffs while with the Bucks — a serious injury that often means long layoffs. In the interview, he estimated that the Damian Lillard comeback would likely begin at the start of next season, rather than mid-year.
That kind of mindset isn’t new for Damian Lillard, a player known for grit and clutch performances. But this time, the battle is internal — balancing progress with caution. The Damian Lillard brand will now lean heavily on resilience.
For Portland, bringing Lillard back is more than nostalgia. It’s part of a plan to anchor their roster with leadership. And for Lillard, this Achilles saga might test his limits — but also offer a chance to reset expectations. Either way, Damian Lillard isn’t walking away. He’s working — hard.
Portland Still Banking On Lillard’s Return, Even Amid Injury
Coach Chauncey Billups is betting on Damian Lillard to come back stronger than ever. Upon his return to Portland, Billups told the media:
“He’ll be back as good as ever if you know anything about him, so I’m excited about that,” Billups said. “I told him that this year he’s going to be the highest paid assistant coach in league history because I’m going to be putting him to work every day.”
That’s not just motivational talk. Billups plans to lean on Lillard in a hybrid role while the star rehabs.
Even now, Damian Lillard remains a key piece in Portland’s future. Though the injury forces patience, the organization clearly sees value beyond just his scoring. The coach’s quip about making him “highest paid assistant coach” hints that Lillard’s wisdom and presence will be used — even if he’s not on the court.
Recovery timelines for an Achilles injury vary, and Lillard has acknowledged that pushing too soon could come with setbacks. Still, Billups and the Blazers seem committed to giving Damian Lillard enough rope to rebalance expectations and drive the team forward in his own time.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
