The world was devastated to watch Damian Lillard limp out with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter of Game 4 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers. Not having Lillard on the court for the rest of the game hurt the Bucks, who lost and are now in a 3-1 deficit.
Losing Lillard in Game 4 might have snuffed out the Bucks’ little hope of making a comeback in this series. Lillard had already been dealing with a blood clot on his right calf and exceeded expectations by speeding up his recovery process to return in time for Game 2.
However, just two games later, Lillard is now dealing with a torn Achilles tendon and will be sidelined from action indefinitely. Although no official recovery timetable has been established from Lillard’s side, let us take a look at the best and worst-case scenarios for the Bucks star.
Damian Lillard Can Miss From Six Months to a Year of Basketball
There is no way for Lillard to have known that his Achilles tendon would rupture when he attempted to secure an offensive rebound. He left the game without scoring a single point, recording just two points and two assists.
This is a common injury in the basketball world. However, the recovery window is subjective and depends on a number of factors. In Lillard’s case, the main variable that affects his Achilles tendon rupture is the extent to which it is torn. If it is more than a partial or even a complete tear, Lillard might even require surgery and would have to wear a splint for six weeks.
Just in: Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard has been diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon, sources tell ESPN. MRI today revealed the severity. A devastating end to his season. pic.twitter.com/ysZ0nw8gxW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 28, 2025
Although various reports on the exact recovery window are not undisputed, the general consensus is that it would take from four to six months to resume walking and other normal activities. However, returning to a sport and playing at a high level could even take up to a year.
If the Bucks do not have Lillard for a year, their championship window with Giannis Antetokounmpo will shorten quite drastically. Additionally, there is no getting around the fact that he is 34 years old and was already dealing with a blood clot issue.
As things stand, it is unclear if Lillard will require surgery. If he is able to rehabilitate and recover without surgery, the return timetable shortens significantly. Unfortunately, Lillard is highly unlikely to start next season with the Bucks, whether he requires surgery or not.
Hopefully, he will be able to return midway through the 2025-2026 NBA season. Lillard joined the Bucks with the hopes of winning an NBA championship. Sadly, this injury appears to have distanced him from that goal.
Dame should retire for sure, these injuries are horrendous for basketball players since during the year of recovery his opposite leg will become severely weakened and prone to a tear when he is done rehabbing his tear.