The Milwaukee Bucks’ fears were realized Monday when an MRI revealed that star guard Damian Lillard suffered a torn left achilles tendon. Lillard will probably miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 NBA season.
The team confirmed on Monday that Lillard will undergo surgery on the injury.
Lillard was injured in the first quarter of Sunday’s 129-103 playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. The non-contact injury occurred when the nine-time All-Star was trying to secure an offensive rebound, falling to the floor shortly before the midway point of the first quarter. He immediately grabbed his left leg, and was unable to get up. He was eventually helped off the court while keeping his left foot from touching the floor. Lillard wore a boot and used crutches when he was seen leaving the arena.
The 34-year-old had just returned to action after missing time because of a blood clot in his right leg. He missed the final 14 games of the regular season and the first contest of this playoff series against the Pacers due to the clot.
“This is a tough one,” Bucks coach Rivers said on Sunday night. “Blood clot followed by this. It’s just tough. … He’s such a great freaking dude. No one deserves this. That’s why I feel bad. I’ve seen injuries that are deflating. This one hurt.”
Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 58 regular-season games this season, his second in Milwaukee.
He joined the Bucks in a trade in September 2023 after leaving the Portland Trail Blazers, who he had been with since they selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft. The Bucks, who won the NBA title in 2021, had been expected to challenge for another championship with Lillard playing alongside two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of last season’s playoffs, and are 3-1 down in their current series and could be eliminated from the postseason in Tuesday’s Game 5.
Lillard is under contract with the Bucks through the 2025-26 season and has a player option for 2026-27. He is owed $113m in salary during that span.
