For 11 seasons from 2011 to 2023, Damian Lillard of Oakland, California was the heart and soul of the Portland Trail Blazers. He was the rookie of the year in 2012-13, and a seven-time All-Star. However, Lillard had a change of scenery for the start of the 2023-24 National Basketball Association regular season, as he was moved to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade that involved the Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns.
The goal in Milwaukee was a simple one–help get Giannis Antetokounmpo the basketball as much as possible. The experience that Lillard had in the NBA would then help the Bucks win their second NBA Finals this decade.
However, while in Milwaukee, Lillard had two serious injuries this past year. The first was a blood clot in his calf that caused deep vein thombrosis, and the second injury was a season-ending torn Achilles. The goal of another championship in Milwaukee was not achieved, as the Bucks were eliminated two consecutive years in the opening round by the Indiana Pacers.
On Thursday, Lillard made the decision that he would be returning to Portland. He signed a three-year deal worth $42 million. In the contract is a no-trade clause and an option for the 2027-28 NBA season according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
This past season with the Bucks, Lillard averaged 24.9 points per game, 7.1 assists per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, and 1.2 steals per game. He had a field goal percentage of .448, three-point percentage of .376, and a free throw percentage of .921. Lillard showed flashes of brilliance in two seasons in Milwaukee. They included a buzzer beater and a 35 point half in the postseason against the Pacers, However, the Bucks decided to move into a different direction, and as a result Lillard is back where his NBA career started.
