Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks suffered an unfortunate and debilitating achilles injury during their playoff match against Indiana Pacers that may not only end his season but could threaten to derail his basketball career as a whole.
Details on Damian Lillard’s Injury
Damian Lillard, the point guard for the Bucks, had to exit Game four of their first-round playoff series after his team fell to the Pacers with a score of 129-103, marking their third loss in four games. The injury occurred in the initial 15 minutes of the game, without any contact from another player, leading to speculations of a severe achilles tear. Lillard was visibly in pain and had to be assisted off the court, ultimately ending his participation in the game prematurely with just two rebounds and two assists to his name.
Prognosis and Potential Recovery Time
Early assessments suggest that Lillard might have torn his left achilles, an injury severe enough to sideline him for the remainder of the 2025 playoffs. Given the critical nature of an achilles injury, there’s a high possibility that he may miss a significant part of the 2025-26 NBA season as well. Prior to this setback, Lillard had already faced health challenges, including missing the last 14 games of the regular season and the playoff opener due to deep vein thrombosis.
His return to the court was eagerly anticipated after being cleared off blood-thinning medication, making this new injury all the more heart-wrenching for both Lillard and his fans.
Coach Doc Rivers Expresses Sympathy
Doc Rivers, head coach for the Bucks’, shared his feelings regarding Lillard’s unfortunate situation by noting how difficult this year has been for him and commending his dedication in coming back out despite previous health concerns; further offering condolences regarding any additional challenges his player might now be encountering.
Rivers acknowledged Lillard’s unique character not only as an athlete, but also as a teammate and father – an event which highlighted our shared sadness at his departure.