'Highest-Paid Assistant Coach' – Portland Trail Blazers’ HC’s Message to Damian Lillard

With his injury, Lillard is expected to miss the entire season rehabbing. That’s why the Blazers see him as a veteran presence in his first year back with the team. During his press conference on Monday, head coach Chauncey Billups joked about the nine-time All-Star’s role in the 2025-26 season.

“He’ll be back good as ever,” Billups said. “If you know anything about him, we’re really excited about that. I told him that this year, he’s gonna be the highest-paid assistant coach in league history. I’mma be putting him to work everyday.”

Lillard will spend most of the time on the sidelines for the Portland Trail Blazers next season. However, there’s an expectation that he’ll make an impact with the young players of the team.

Lillard was candid about his relationship with the Portland Trail Blazers’ general manager when he first left

No one thought Lillard would leave the Portland Trail Blazers. For 11 seasons, he was loyal to the organization and considered the city his home. However, consecutive years of coming up short led him to demand a trade. The former Weber State guard eventually admitted to the rift in his relationship with the organization’s general manager, Joe Cronin.

Lillard talked about it during his press conference on Monday.

“Toward the end, it was a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunications,” Lillard said. “When that happens, feelings are hurt. Joe and I never sat down and talked about that. We let it be and it sat out there. That was the mistake.”

Since then, however, the two have buried the hatchet and have put the past behind them. This time, the two are on the same side as they look to turn the Portland Trail Blazers into a successful franchise.