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Damian Lillard Shares Cryptic Message After Bucks' Playoff Exit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rex Villas | Last updated May 1, 2025 9:02 AM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks' experience in the 2025 NBA Playoffs was as embarrassing as it was devastating.

For the third year in a row, the Bucks suffered a first-round exit from the postseason, this time at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, who needed just five games to dispose of Milwaukee.

Adding to the pain for the Bucks was the serious lower-body injury that superstar point guard Damian Lillard sustained in the opening period of the series' Game 4.

It was later determined that the nine-time NBA All-Star tore his left Achilles, putting his availability for at least the start of the 2025-26 NBA season in question, as Milwaukee absorbed a painful 119-118 overtime loss in Game 5 that ended the team's season.

Lillard is determined to recover from his injury as quickly as possible, with NBA insider Chris Haynes reporting that the former Weber State Wildcats star told him that "he’s motivated on attacking his rehab and returning to form."

As Lillard looks to start his recovery process, he shared a seemingly cryptic post via Instagram stories on Tuesday: "Sometimes protecting your peace means disappointing a few ungrateful people."

Damian Lillard's post on IG pic.twitter.com/7PAlG4lUXK
— Don March (@ItsAlwaysMarch) May 1, 2025

As Lillard looks to start his recovery process, he shared a seemingly cryptic post via Instagram stories on Tuesday: "Sometimes protecting your peace means disappointing a few ungrateful people."

It is uncertain if Lillard is trying to convey a message to someone else or if his post is merely a product of internet randomness, but what's clear is that he has a challenge ahead of him, as he hopes to be ready to play once the new season comes around.

In his second season with the Bucks, the 34-year-old Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds through 58 games while posting a 54.7 effective field goal percentage.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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