Damian Lillard has been preparing to reclaim his position on the basketball court after enduring a significant health issue over the last month. The Milwaukee Bucks guard, keen to hoist an NBA championship trophy, is now poised to return to action.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers announced that Lillard, a nine-time All-Star, will be back in the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s match as the Bucks face off against the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. The Bucks suffered a 117-98 defeat in Game 1, during which Lillard was in the process of recovering from his deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.
“I’m playing,” Lillard affirmed after completing the team’s morning shootaround. Explaining his recovery process, he mentioned, “Not knowing if I would return this season, keeping my strength with lifting helped. However, it was many weeks before permissible on-court activity was resumed.” The club soon issued an update through social media confirming Lillard’s availability, moving him from Monday’s injury report where he was listed as questionable.
The Pacers, meanwhile, did not hold a shootaround and have not been available for media interactions until later in the day.
Lillard’s last appearance was on March 18, initially being sidelined with right leg muscle soreness and then right calf soreness, leading to a diagnosis of a blood-clotting disorder—a condition that typically entails months of recovery. Remarkably, he returned to the game within weeks.
Despite his return, doubts linger. Lillard admitted uncertainties regarding his body’s reaction to the game environment after such prolonged inactivity. Though there’s no formal minutes restriction, he plans to communicate openly with Coach Rivers about his condition.
Coach Rivers intends to monitor Lillard closely for any signs of fatigue after only completing three days of practice. Rivers remarked, “Hearing ‘blood clot,’ playing again seems unlikely, let alone in the playoffs. But Dame called and insisted he’s ready, and we’re all supportive.”
The Bucks could greatly benefit from Lillard’s contributions if he performs as he did pre-injury. The team struggled with their three-point attempts in Game 1, where four key starters collectively scored just 14 points. During the regular season encounters with Indiana, Lillard averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds, with 35.5% overall shooting and 38.9% from the three-point territory. Against the Pacers last playoffs, he had an impressive 31.3 points per game average, although Milwaukee lost the series 4-2.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, who previously missed those games due to his own calf injury, put up an impressive 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Game 1. He is eager for Lillard’s return, expressing, “I’m happy for him, glad he’s healthy, and can resume playing. He’s among the league’s top talents, and whenever he’s ready, be it Game 5, 6, or 4, I hope he can bolster our team and lead us to victories.”
Lillard shares this aspiration though he maintains cautious expectations about his comeback. “I needed more time on the court to acclimatize, endure some pushing, navigate screens, and ready my body to avoid injury,” Lillard outlined. “Timing isn’t ever perfect after missing substantial time. Returning amidst intense playoffs isn’t easy, but earlier in the series is always better.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the significance of being prepared for Lillard’s presence, asserting, “He’s a phenomenal player, and despite his hiatus, one should never underestimate such greatness.”