In a sudden turn of events, Damian Lillard has made his way back to Portland, signing a three-year, $42 million contract with the Trail Blazers this past weekend. The return to where he became a basketball legend happened faster than even he expected.
“All of those things count. I wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon,” Lillard said after signing the paperwork alongside his wife and three kids.
The deal includes a no-trade clause, giving him the option to opt out after two seasons.
For Dame, this homecoming means everything beyond basketball.
“Just knowing that I’m going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I’ve driven on pretty much my entire adulthood,” he shared.
The familiarity extends to his support system too.
“My whole family being here, my mom, my brother, my sisters, all my friends around the city of Portland,” Lillard added.
The 35-year-old point guard made his first public comments about his return during Monday evening’s news conference. He appeared alongside Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and general manager Joe Cronin.
Lillard spent his first eleven years in Portland before his brief two-year stint away from Oregon.
His return comes with challenges, though.
Three months ago, Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon during a playoff series against the Pacers. The injury required surgery that will keep him sidelined for the start of the 2025-26 season.
Billups already has plans for his star player during recovery.
“I told him that this year he’s going to be the highest-paid assistant coach in league history because I’ll be putting him to work every day,” the Portland coach joked.
While Dame hopes to play next season, the organization isn’t rushing his recovery.
Cronin made it clear they’ll wait “as long as it takes” for their returning star to heal properly.
Lillard himself seems to have gained perspective with age, especially after being limited to just 58 games last season.
“My prideful self would be thinking differently, but I think with age, you get wiser,” he admitted. “Like Joe said, it’s going to be ultimately what’s best, I think, to take as much time as possible to make sure that I’m right, that’s what I’ll do.”
