On April 3, 2018, Damian Lillard had a left ankle sprain during the Portland Trail Blazers’ visit at the Dallas Mavericks. From that moment, the guard had to face a series of injuries that did not let him show his best version, and only now, after four seasons, he is 100% recovered, as he said himself in his annual basketball camp.
After an ankle injury in 2018, a knee injury in 2021, and the most serious, an abdominal injury that he had to live with for the last four years, he’s now fully healthy after finally deciding to have surgery on January 13, 2022.
After scoring just one of his eight three-point attempts in the Blazers’ 139-106 loss to the Lakers on the last day of 2021, he said goodbye to the season. A lot happened over the years, and it’s time to assess why Blazers fans can be very excited about this new 100% recovered version of Lillard.
"I feel healthy, 100% healthy"
— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) July 20, 2022
Damian Lillard on getting right physically & mentally the past 7 months after surgery.
"The burden of we have to win and I gotta perform, that's a little bit stressful...I never thought I would say it, but I think it was exactly what I needed" https://t.co/Q1E4yOIBz2 pic.twitter.com/otIp9EYv8r
The good old times for Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers
Attacking the rim more than ever, looking to earn his paycheck at the free throw line, and selecting better shots from long distance, Damian was more efficient than ever in his NBA career.
According to NBA.com, he shot 44.4% from the field on 19.8 attempts, 89.5% on free throws on 7.3 attempts, and encompassed it all in an outstanding 58.6% TS, all of these percentages being NBA career highs up to that point.
The connection from the drag pick and roll with Jusuf Nurkic became a trademark and Lillard was able to select how and when to shoot his venom.
Despite a minor ankle injury on Dec. 23, he managed to recover quickly and, after missing five games, came back like never before.
Mean Machine
He played the next 43 regular season games averaging 27.0 points for the third-best average in his NBA career and leading Portland into the playoffs from eighth place in the West with a 41-41 record.
Unfortunately, in the first round of the playoffs, the franchise ran into the best version of Golden State Warriors with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and company, and fell in a sweep.
Still, the numbers and actions make it clear that Damian Lillard managed to be much more efficient and deadly when injuries weren’t plaguing him.
With Anfernee Simons’ explosion, Nurkic’s confident play, Jerami Grant’s strong isolation play and defensive versatility, Josh Hart in transition, and Gary Payton’s explosiveness, they’re forming quite an interesting supporting cast.
Dame’s time is coming, and don’t say we didn’t warn you.