Damian Lillard is about to be on national TV in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest, and that’s exactly why fans want to know: Is Damian Lillard coming back this season?
The most direct answer is: No. Lillard is not on track to return for the 2025-26 season. Multiple reports and league/team framing have treated his torn Achilles recovery as a season-long absence, even though Portland has cleared him to take part in All-Star Weekend shooting events.
Why he’s in the 3-point contest if he’s still out
The key detail: the 3-point contest is a controlled, non-contact event, no cutting, no defense, no repeated sprint/stop/pivot work that an NBA game demands.
Lillard is competing despite being sidelined this year due to a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the 2025 playoffs. Reuters noted the unusual nature of the appearance and framed it as a “despite being sidelined this season” storyline, which is exactly what’s driving the return-date searches tonight.
Damian Lillard injury timeline: the dates that matter
If you’re trying to piece together a realistic return window, these are the most useful mile markers:
- 2025 playoffs: Lillard suffers the Achilles injury while with the Milwaukee Bucks.
- May 2, 2025: He undergoes surgery to repair the torn left Achilles, per CBS Sports.
- July 2025: The Bucks waive-and-stretch Lillard’s contract to create flexibility for a major roster move (including signing Myles Turner).
- July 2025: Lillard returns to Portland on a three-year, $42 million deal that includes a player option (2027-28) and a no-trade clause, per ESPN.
- 2025-26 season: NBA.com explicitly noted he was expected to miss the 2025-26 season, which has remained the consistent public expectation.
That’s why the most honest “return timeline” answer right now is: not this season, with the practical target being training camp / early 2026-27, assuming rehab stays on schedule.
The latest team tone
Portland hasn’t pinned a specific game-return date publicly — and for an Achilles, that’s normal — but the coaching staff has tried to balance optimism with patience.
At Lillard’s introductory availability after re-joining the Blazers, then head coach Chauncey Billups said he expects him back “as good as ever,” and joked Lillard would be the “highest-paid assistant coach in league history” while he rehabs.
That quote matters because it reflects the team’s posture: long-term health first, no rushing for a midseason cameo.
Contract context: why Portland did it (and why Milwaukee moved on)
Milwaukee’s decision to waive-and-stretch Lillard was driven by roster construction and cap mechanics, ESPN reported the move was made to acquire Turner.
Portland, meanwhile, brought Lillard home on a new deal at a very different price point than his previous superstar max-level money, signaling a reunion built around rehab + legacy + a longer runway rather than immediate 2025-26 wins.
Where Lillard already ranks in Blazers history
Even with this season lost, Lillard’s Portland résumé is already all-time. NBA.com noted he holds franchise records for points (19,376) and 3-pointers (2,387).
And tonight’s contest is a reminder of what he still does at an elite level: Reuters notes Lillard is a two-time 3-point contest champion (2023, 2024) and is trying to join Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time winners.
Bottom line: If viewers see Lillard drilling shots and wonder if a late-season return is coming, the clean answer is still no return expected in 2025-26, but his presence tonight is a real sign that rehab has progressed enough for Portland to green-light a high-profile, basketball-specific workload.
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