Mar 10, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Blazers' Damian Lillard Makes Major Prediction on Achilles Injury Return

Originally posted on Portland Trail Blazers on SI
By Ryan Stano | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 2:00 PM ET

The Portland Trail Blazers have been reunited with point guard Damian Lillard. Lillard signed a new three-year deal with Portland worth $42 million over those terms.

Lillard will miss all of next season as he recovers from his torn Achilles. He suffered the injury in a game against the Indiana Pacers during the first round of the playoffs.

He will focus on the first year as a recovery year before he tries to help the Trail Blazers win some games that matter. He even has a bold prediction for how he will play once he's fully recovered.

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Lillard has full confidence that he will return to being the All-NBA player that he was in Portland for so long once he has healed from his injury.

Damian Lillard: "It's a tough injury. But me personally, I know how I'm going to approach the whole rehab process and take my time. I think I'm gonna return to form. That's my true belief."
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 22, 2025

Recovering to play as the same kind of player he was before the injury is going to be a tough road. Achilles injuries don't have a track record of being injuries that players can come back from.

Kevin Durant is the player that everyone looks to as the gold standard when it comes to recovering from a torn Achilles. The Trail Blazers are certainly hoping for that kind of recovery from him.

Lillard would love to be a great point guard once he comes back in a couple of years. He is hoping to the All-Star guard that he was this past season for the Bucks once he does.

At that point, the Trail Blazers might add a few veteran players to perhaps make a run at making a deep playoff run, contingent on how well the team plays next season.

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Portland is certainly happy to have Lillard back on the team, but he still has to prove that he can perform. He might think that he can be the same player he once was, but his age might make it difficult.

Lillard won't take the court again until he is 36 years old. Playing at an All-Star level at that age after tearing an Achilles is close to unprecedented.

This past season with the Bucks, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game.

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For more news and notes on the Portland Trail Blazers, visit Portland Trail Blazers on SI.

This article first appeared on Portland Trail Blazers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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