Damian Lillard’s return to Portland wasn’t just another move in the NBA. It was a homecoming that ESPN insider Bobby Marks saw coming from miles away. While fans across the league expressed shock at the news, Marks had already called the reunion months earlier, proving that sometimes the heart knows what the mind hasn’t figured out yet.
Why Did ESPN’s Bobby Marks Predict Damian Lillard’s Return to Portland?
Marks recently went viral after his prediction on “NBA Today” came true. He correctly suggested that Lillard would re-sign with his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
.@BobbyMarks42 called Dame Lillard back to Portland on NBA Today 😳 pic.twitter.com/oQ1DW0SOHN
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 17, 2025
“Look at the Lillard situation, I think there’s the human element, and then there’s also the basketball court here. For me, it’s a reunion back in Portland here. I think certainly where Damian Lillard is in his career, where his children reside in Portland, he’s doing all his rehab in Portland,” Marks explained prior to the trade.
Lillard decided to return to Portland to rehab in his home city with his family for a year while he recovers from an Achilles tear he suffered during the 2025 playoffs. Portland fans hope he will be back on the court with the team for the start of the 2026-27 season.
According to reports from ESPN, Lillard also had multiple midlevel exceptions and minimum offers from NBA contenders, which lined up with his initial statement of wanting to play for a championship contender. However, he ultimately decided that a return to Portland was ideal.
How Did the Trail Blazers Build Their Veteran Core?
Beyond bringing Lillard back to Portland, the Trail Blazers also reacquired Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics. After initially trading him to Boston following acquiring him in the Lillard trade, they brought him back this offseason, reuniting the two veterans to help the franchise compete.
Blazers traded Dame to Milwaukee in a deal for Toumani Camara and Jrue Holiday whom the Blazers then traded to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and first-round pick and the right to swap two first-round pick with the Bucks (2028, 2030)
Nearly 2 years later the… pic.twitter.com/PQQccZjZMQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 17, 2025
“Yes, he will likely be out for an extended period this year. But if you compare him with Jrue Holiday in that Portland backcourt next year, I just look at a reunion with Portland,” Marks explained during his segment.
One of the main concerns surrounding the Trail Blazers’ 2025-26 season will undoubtedly be injuries. Holiday has suffered from multiple injuries over the last few seasons, while Lillard will be recovering from an Achilles tear, meaning he will have to be managed carefully.
However, if the Trail Blazers can get Holiday and Lillard back to full fitness for just one year, after almost making the Play-In Tournament in 2024-25, they may be able to push for a playoff spot in a stacked Western Conference.
