In the NBA, one injury that seems to signal the beginning of the end of a player’s career is an Achilles tendon injury. While Damian Lillard waits for the results of his MRI or his possible Achilles injury, the Bucks are preparing for the worst-case scenario. Chris Haynes, one of the most informed reporters and a close friend of Dame, reported that the fear is that he suffered a left Achilles tear.
Sources: The fear is Bucks star Damian Lillard suffered a left Achilles tear. Brutal circumstance after working himself back from a blood clot diagnosis that kept him out over a month. https://t.co/NgQtMpm0yE
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 28, 2025
Lillard’s Future: A Durant-Like Recovery or a Kobe-Like Fight
Dame is one of the nicest players in the league. He was recently named to the top 75 players of all time. His legacy will be that of a great player, no matter what happens next. But given his age and shape in recent years, the optimism for a good recovery vanishes. Players usually take a whole year to recover. Lillard will have to be patient with his recovery. Two star players who have suffered a similar injury are Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant. But they had a completely different recovery.
Kevin Durant’s Recovery – The Best Case Scenario for Dame and Bucks
KD suffered a ruptured right Achilles injury during Game 5 of the NBA Finals in 2019. Initially, the Warriors labeled it as a calf strain, but it was quickly changed to an Achilles injury. Durant was out for the entire 2019-20 season and eventually came back in December 2020. Since he came back from injury, he has regained an All-Star form and even made the All-NBA second team twice.
But we have to remember, Durant was 31 years old when he suffered an injury. Dame will turn 35 this summer and will likely be 36 when he returns to action. How good can he be at that age and after a significant injury?
Kobe Bryant an Uphill Battle
Bryant is closer to Dame’s age at the time of injury. The late Lakers legend sustained the injury at the age of 34 in April 2013. While he was past his prime at the time of the injury, Kobe was still dominating by scoring 27.3 points per game. That year, he finished fifth in MVP voting. After the injury, he played six, 35, and 66 games in the next three seasons. But he was never the same, with his shooting efficiency taking a hit.
The Last Word
Even before the injury, there were rumblings that Dame might be playing his last season in Milwaukee. The Bucks need to shake things up around their franchise star, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lillard has a player option for the 2026-27 season at $58 million. Right now, it seems impossible to imagine someone taking on his contract for next season at $54 million, just to have him recover. The Bucks might have to include an additional incentive for someone taking Dame. Before that, they could trade Lillard for complementary pieces to surround Giannis.
Judging by the timeline for Achilles injury recovery, Damian Lillard might come back at the start of the 2026-27 season. He can either be a free agent that summer or maybe return to the Bucks. It is hard to see someone trading for him. It is worth noting that players at Dame’s age have had a hard time coming back. Chauncey Billups played only 41 games over two seasons before retiring. Anderson Varejao played 67 games through two seasons before his career ended. If anything, Dame will forever be a Portland and an NBA legend.
Photo credit: © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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