Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers shared some comments from star guard Damian Lillard ahead of Tuesday’s Game 5 in Indiana. Rivers was able to share some insight on how Lillard is thinking in the wake of suffering a torn left Achilles’ tendon during Game 4.
“He said two things, which I love,” Rivers said. “The first one, he just said ‘I can’t believe I’m here.’ Then the second one is ‘I’m not going out this way.’ I can guarantee you he won’t, and that’s what I meant about his resolve.”
Lillard is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season while recovering from the torn Achilles’. Average recovery time ranges from 10-12 months, with most NBA players missing a full year to recover and then ramp up to playing again.