Damian Lillard is back where his NBA journey began, officially returning to the Portland Trail Blazers with a three-year, $42 million deal after a two year-long detour in Milwaukee.
His return marks the end of a two-year saga that began in 2023, when Lillard requested a trade after the Blazers failed to build a playoff-caliber roster around him. At the time, he had his sights set on the Miami Heat, but the deal never materialized.
Lillard was eventually dealt to the Bucks just before training camp that fall. While the move surprised many, it followed months of stalled communication and tension with Portland’s front office. “More than anything, it was miscommunications and misunderstandings,” Lillard said later, via Jamal Collier of ESPN.
Despite the change of scenery, ties to Portland were never fully severed. By January 2024, Lillard’s agent Aaron Goodwin and Blazers GM Joe Cronin reconnected. According to ESPN, they discussed the previous breakdown and cleared the air.
When Lillard was waived by Milwaukee on July 6—following an Achilles tear in the playoffs and a previous bout with deep vein thrombosis—Portland moved quickly. Cronin met with Lillard at his Portland home, signaling mutual interest in a reunion.
Lillard’s return became official just weeks later. At age 34 and coming off a challenging season, the veteran guard still offers value. In 58 games last year, he averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists while shooting 37.6% from three.
He helped the Bucks capture the NBA Cup in December and earned a ninth All-Star selection in January before the injuries struck. Even in a shortened campaign, his offensive efficiency remained elite.
Portland, meanwhile, is undergoing a roster transition. Lillard’s leadership and connection to the franchise offer stability and identity to a young group still searching for direction.
“This is where I built my life and my home and everything,” Lillard said. “Walking back through those doors and walking back to my locker was just like, these types of things don’t happen in the NBA.”
Drafted sixth overall in 2012, Lillard has played 900 career regular season games—all starts—and holds a 25.1 points-per-game career average. His best scoring season came in 2022–23, when he posted 32.2 points per contest.
