Damian Lillard is officially heading back to where his NBA journey began — with the Portland Trail Blazers. The veteran guard has signed a three-year contract worth $42 million, according to a person familiar with the terms, though the team has not yet made a formal announcement.
The deal, first reported by ESPN, marks a significant homecoming for the 35-year-old star who was originally drafted sixth overall by Portland in 2012 and spent 11 seasons with the franchise before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks prior to the 2023–24 season.
However, fans may have to wait to see “Lillard Time” in action again. Lillard recently underwent surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon, an injury he sustained during a first-round playoff matchup against the Indiana Pacers. The rehab could force him to miss the entire 2025–26 season. The Milwaukee Bucks waived Lillard earlier this month, choosing to stretch the remaining $113 million on his previous contract over five years.
Despite a challenging season marked by deep vein thrombosis that limited him to 58 games, Lillard still ranked among the NBA’s elite—finishing 10th in scoring (24.9 ppg) and 10th in assists (7.1 apg) and earning his ninth All-Star selection.
Lillard confirmed his return to Portland with an emotional post on Instagram, sharing a video of the Trail Blazers’ locker room, ending with his nameplate and the words “Together Again.” He captioned it simply: “RipCityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!”
During his final season in Portland before the trade, Lillard averaged 32.2 points per game, including an iconic 71-point performance against the Houston Rockets — making him one of just seven players in NBA history to score 70 or more in a game. He remains the franchise leader in both total points (19,376) and 3-pointers made (2,387).
Although Lillard’s time with the Blazers only produced four playoff series wins and one trip to the Western Conference Finals, his legacy in Portland remains strong. Even after leaving the team to pursue a championship with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, Lillard never expressed resentment toward the organization. His departure aligned with Portland’s focus on rebuilding around young talent like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
A longtime Adidas athlete, Lillard had hinted during a 2024 event at the brand’s North American headquarters that a return to Portland was always a possibility. That speculation became reality with this latest move.
Over his career, Lillard has averaged 25.1 points and 6.7 assists per game, was the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, and a gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics. He also holds the distinction of having scored 60 or more points in five different games, all while wearing a Blazers jersey.
Now back in Rip City, Lillard may not hit the court immediately—but his return brings renewed hope and excitement for fans who never stopped cheering for their franchise legend.
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