Damian Lillard is currently out for the entire 2025–26 NBA season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2025 playoff run, and he’s using this year strictly for rehab. In summer 2025 he was waived by Milwaukee, then returned to the Portland Trail Blazers on a new multi‑year deal, with the understanding that he would sit out the season to recover and aim for a full comeback in 2026–27.

Quick Scoop: What happened and where he is now

  • He tore his Achilles during the Bucks’ 2025 playoff run, a serious injury that typically requires many months of recovery.
  • The Bucks, worried about his timeline and roster flexibility, moved on from him after the injury, ultimately leading to him being waived.
  • Lillard then chose to return “home” to Portland, signing a multi‑year deal with the Trail Blazers in July 2025.
  • The Blazers did not expect him to play at all in 2025–26; the plan is for him to rehab the entire season and target a return in 2026–27.
  • He has been around the team in a mentor/veteran presence role, sitting on the bench, traveling, and staying involved while rehabbing.

In his own comments, Lillard has said the rehab is going well but emphasized that this is an injury you “have to take your time” with and that patience is key.

Injury status and latest news

  • Diagnosis: Torn Achilles tendon, suffered in 2025 playoffs. Recovery from this injury for NBA guards often runs 9–12+ months.
  • 2025–26 status: Effectively ruled out; both he and the Blazers have publicly signaled he will not rush back this season.
  • Rehab progress: As of early January 2026, he’s reported steady progress and says he’s starting to “see the light at the end of the tunnel,” though still taking it slow.
  • Contract: His reworked deals between Milwaukee and Portland give him a very large guaranteed salary in 2025–26 and 2026–27, with an opt‑out in 2027, reflecting that Portland is investing in his comeback window, not this lost season.

Why he’s back in Portland

  • Personal reasons: Lillard has talked about Portland being where his family and kids are, and that “being home” mattered a lot in choosing his next team after the Bucks exit.
  • Franchise connection: He’s the Blazers’ iconic star, and both he and the organization wanted to repair and deepen the relationship after his earlier trade and the awkward Milwaukee chapter.
  • Competitive angle: Portland is retooling rather than contending right now, so they can afford to be patient and give him the full year to get right, hoping his return in 2026–27 lifts a young roster that’s currently hovering around the play‑in mix.

Forum / fan discussion vibes

Online discussions and forums mostly circle around a few themes:

  • Sympathy and patience – Many fans emphasize that an Achilles tear at his age is serious and that he shouldn’t rush back just for a low‑stakes 2025–26 appearance.
  • Legacy talk – There’s a lot of conversation about his “homecoming” narrative: leaving Portland to chase a ring, getting hurt in Milwaukee, then returning to the Blazers for what looks like a final chapter.
  • Media skepticism – Some threads also touch on earlier reporting and rumors about his rehab and trade saga, with fans criticizing how some journalists framed his situation, and Lillard (or his camp) occasionally pushing back on narratives they felt were misleading.

A common fan take is that the 2025–26 season is essentially a reset year: let the young Blazers develop, let Lillard fully heal, and then see in October 2026 how close he can get back to his All‑NBA form.

What to watch for next

  • Any updated rehab milestones or videos of him working out with intensity, especially on‑court cutting and explosiveness.
  • Roster moves by Portland that signal they’re building around a Lillard‑return window in 2026–27 rather than a long rebuild.
  • Contract and opt‑out chatter closer to 2027, depending on how healthy and effective he looks once he’s back.

TL;DR: Damian Lillard isn’t gone—he’s in Portland, under contract with the Trail Blazers, sitting out 2025–26 to rehab a torn Achilles from the 2025 playoffs, with both sides eyeing a full‑strength return for the 2026–27 season.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.