Damian Lillard is taking a patient approach in his rehab from a torn Achilles, with expectations to miss the entire 2025-26 season. But when he returns, don't be surprised if he's at least close to form. History doesn't favor Lillard returning as 100% of the superstar-level player he was prior to the injury, given his age (35) and the severity of the injury. He doesn't seem to care.
"It's obviously a tough injury, but I know how I'm going to approach the whole rehab process, taking my time," Lillard said in his introductory news conference. "I think I'm going to return to form."
A healthy Damian Lillard turns Blazers into a playoff dark horse
Lillard was around the same age as Kobe Bryant was when he suffered his Achilles tear. Bryant wasn't able to come back as the same player, struggling with shooting inefficiencies of under 40% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. However, technology has increased at an exponential rate, meaning these athletes are able to bounce back from these previously career-ruining injuries.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on a Bleacher Report livestream that Dame was not only already back shooting in Portland, but had a noteworthy session where he simply couldn't miss from deep.
"Damian Lillard got out on the floor in Portland, too, and was just blistering from deep in a shooting drill," Fischer said. "These guys are all just able to come back from this stuff, [it's a] much simpler process than it used to be."
Lillard was surprisingly waived and stretched by the Milwaukee Bucks this summer in a move to free up cap space to sign Myles Turner. That paved the way for Dame to reunite with the Blazers after a brief two seasons away from the franchise, where he's built his Hall of Fame legacy. It was a win-win signing for both parties.
Despite being injured, Lillard was able to sign a three-year, $42 million deal. That also includes a rare no-trade clause, giving him assurance that he'll be able to rehab in Portland close to his family without any surprises.
Meanwhile, the Blazers are able to add an offensive weapon to their backcourt on a team-friendly deal. He'll have to sit out this season, but the contract is still tremendous value. If he returns close to 90-100% of the player he once was, Portland would be getting an absolute steal considering what contracts go for around the league these days.
By the time Dame returns, Portland's up-and-coming roster will finally be ready to make a legitimate run at a postseason appearance. With an elite defensive infrastructure, they're also much better equipped to complement Lillard's strengths and weaknesses.
The rest of the league is underestimating the Blazers. They have several breakout candidates poised to take a leap this year. And if Dame does make a full recovery, they could even be a dark horse to make a deep playoff run sooner than expected.