Damian Lillard is back where it all began. The beloved Portland Trail Blazers icon has signed a three-year deal to return to the team that made him a star and a city that still calls him its own.
Lillard’s return is more than a contract. It’s a homecoming steeped in meaning. His three children joined him as he signed the $42 million deal, which includes a no-trade clause.
“Just knowing I’m going to be back home for all parts of my life,” Lillard said, “all those things count.” His voice carried the weight of familiarity and relief.
Lillard played his first 11 NBA seasons in Portland before a trade to Milwaukee last year. He left in search of a title. But his roots were always in Oregon.
Now 35, Lillard remains one of the game’s most respected scorers. But his comeback won’t happen on the court just yet. He tore his Achilles in April during the playoffs and is likely out for the 2025–26 season.
Still, the Blazers welcomed him with open arms. Coach Chauncey Billups joked, “He’ll be the highest-paid assistant coach in league history.” General manager Joe Cronin said the team will wait “as long as it takes” for his full recovery.
Lillard ranks as Portland’s all-time leading scorer and three-point shooter. He made nine All-Star teams, earned Rookie of the Year in 2013, and joined the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. In 2023, he dropped 71 points in a single game.
But for all the numbers, this move is about connection. Lillard said his daughter lit up when she realized they weren’t flying back to Milwaukee. “We don’t have to get on an airplane no more?” she asked.
Portland never really let go. Now, Lillard returns not just as a player, but as a father, a mentor, and a symbol of loyalty in a league that rarely stands still.
