Following his grand return to the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard will likely miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season as he recovers from a torn left Achilles tendon. Nevertheless, the star point guard appears optimistic about the Trail Blazers’ outlook.
Lillard suffered his devastating injury setback on April 27, cutting his second playoff run with the Milwaukee Bucks short after just three appearances. In early July, the 13-year veteran was shockingly waived, with the remainder of his $112.6 million contract stretched to free up cap space. That opened the door for a reunion with Portland, where he spent his first 11 seasons before having his trade request granted in September 2023.
The nine-time All-Star inked a three-year, $42 million deal with his former team in mid-July. He joins fellow veteran guard Jrue Holiday, acquired from the Boston Celtics, as the Trail Blazers’ high-profile offseason pickups. While both are expected to provide vital mentorship, they also see a return to prominence in the cards for their talented young squad.
Jrue Holiday Relays Damian Lillard’s Message About Trail Blazers’ Potential
In an interview with RG.org released on Monday, Holiday shared Lillard’s encouraging text message about Portland’s future following his decision to rejoin the franchise.
“We’ve known each other for a long time now, but even when he first re-signed with the team, him texting me, ‘Man, we really got a chance to be good,'” Holiday recounted.
Holiday also touched on the widespread excitement surrounding the Trail Blazers’ mix of intriguing prospects and seasoned talent, emphasizing that they are built for instant success. The organization last made the playoffs in 2021, failing to qualify in Lillard’s last two campaigns leading up to his trade request.
“Goal is to win,” Holiday said. “The goal is to win and to make some noise. I think that after the last few years of what has happened after Damian Lillard being traded–and then now Dame’s back–I think it’s an exciting time here in Portland. It’s an exciting time to be a Trail Blazer, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
The anticipation for Portland’s next chapter was palpable at Sunday’s fan rally as the city celebrated Lillard’s return after a two-year stint in Milwaukee. However, the Trail Blazers also showed promise over the second half of last season, going 23-18 behind breakout production from forward Deni Avdija and a stout team defense. During that 41-game span, they boasted the NBA’s third-best defensive rating (110.0).
With Lillard and Holiday’s presence projected to pay dividends for young guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe’s development, Portland could be poised to build on its strong finish.
