Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard has been medically cleared following a rare and rapid recovery from a blood clot in his right leg, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Charania reported Thursday that Lillard is no longer on blood thinners and has officially cleared the deep vein thrombosis that sidelined him for nearly a month.
The Bucks will remain without the 34-year-old for Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
However, his status beyond the series opener has shifted dramatically.
Milwaukee’s medical team has informed the organization that Lillard’s recovery timeline is unprecedented, with one doctor reportedly calling the clearance “historic,” per Charania.
The positive development follows early detection and immediate intervention by specialists even before an official diagnosis was made in late March.
Lillard has resumed basketball activities and is expected to begin contact workouts soon as he progresses toward a full return.
He last played on March 18 and was ruled out indefinitely after the diagnosis was confirmed.
The veteran averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds over 73 games in his first season with the Bucks.
He played a critical role in leading Milwaukee to a 48-34 record, securing the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers finished two games ahead in the standings at 50-32 and will hold home-court advantage in the series.
Milwaukee won three of the four regular-season meetings against Indiana, including a seven-point victory in their final matchup.
Lillard’s availability will continue to be evaluated on a game-by-game basis as the Bucks monitor his conditioning and response to increased workload.
Game 1 tips off Saturday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
