Damian Lillard Tears Achilles: Out For Playoffs

On Monday, it was introduced that Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard was recognized with a torn left Achilles tendon and can miss the rest of the playoffs.

Lillard, who will flip 35 in July, might additionally doubtlessly miss the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season because of the harm.

The harm occurred in the course of the first quarter of the Bucks’ Sunday residence loss to the Indiana Pacers in Recreation 4 of their first-round collection. Lillard was seen stumbling onto the courtroom after passing the ball to Gary Trent Jr. and stayed down till Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers and the coaching employees carried him off the courtroom.

In keeping with ESPN, Lillard was noticed leaving the sector utilizing crutches and carrying a strolling boot. It is a important setback for Milwaukee, as it’s on the verge of elimination, trailing 3-1 in opposition to Indiana. They’ll face the Pacers in Indianapolis on Tuesday.

“I knew it straight away,” Rivers informed ESPN on Sunday. “I felt dangerous for him; the man tried to come back again for his group. I simply felt dangerous for him.”

Oh no pic.twitter.com/J3Jwfk5p1C

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) April 28, 2025

In his first season with the Bucks in 2023-24, Lillard handled a strained Achilles in the course of the group’s first spherical playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. All through the 2024-25 common season, the NBA TOP 75 honoree was additionally recognized with deep vein thrombosis in his proper calf and missed a while for Milwaukee from late March to mid-April earlier than returning.

Lillard participated in and began 58 video games for the Bucks in the course of the common season, averaging 24.9 factors, 4.7 rebounds, and seven.1 assists per recreation.

“He is one of many hardest — mentally hardest — guys I’ve ever been round, and that is why he’s who he’s,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo informed ESPN. “And I imagine he’ll overcome each impediment that is going to be in entrance of him.

“All people’s going to be there for him, and it doesn’t matter what the impediment is for him, he’ll overcome and we’ll assist him overcome it.” 

There are a lot of questions on whether or not Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee after main the Bucks to a championship in 2021, or if he might be traded within the low season. Lilliard’s harm is one thing that may positively have an effect on Milwaukee’s determination making within the low season. 

Common Supervisor Jon Horst agreed to a multiyear extension with the Bucks final Thursday. Throughout his tenure, Milwaukee has superior to the playoffs every season since he was employed by the group in June 2017. The final season Milwaukee missed the playoffs was the 2015-16 season. The Bucks had main championship hopes this yr, however Lillard’s harm places the franchise at a crossroads second since defeating Indiana on this collection will show to be fairly tough.