Damian Lillard Said He's 'Not Going Out This Way' After Injury, Per Bucks' Doc Rivers
Damian Lillard doesn't intend for his torn left Achilles tendon to mean the end of his NBA career.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers told reporters he spoke to Lillard on Tuesday, before his shorthanded team was eliminated from the first round with a Game 5 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers.
“He said two things, which I love,” Rivers said, per Michael Marot of the Associated Press. “The first one, he just said ‘I can’t believe I’m here.’
"Then the second one is ‘I’m not going out this way.’ I can guarantee you he won’t, and that’s what I meant about his resolve.”
Lillard suffered the injury in Sunday's Game 4. He was playing in his third game back after missing a month with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.
As noted by ESPN's Stephania Bell, treatment for deep vein thrombosis includes rest and no contact.
Lillard participated in a three-on-three practice on April 17 and rejoined Bucks practice on April 18, the day before Game 1 against the Pacers. He returned to game action for Game 2 on April 22.
Lillard suffered the injury midway through the first quarter of Sunday's Game 4, when he went down while grabbing at his left leg and ankle. He had to be helped off the court, and the Bucks announced on Monday that an MRI had revealed the severity of the injury.
It takes NBA athletes on average 10 months to recover from Achilles tears, per Bell.
When Kevin Durant suffered a torn Achilles tendon while playing for the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, he ended up missing the entirety of the 2019-20 season. He later told ESPN's Baxter Holmes he had feared the injury would be career-ending.
A similar timeline could put Lillard's future with the Bucks into question. He is only locked in with the franchise through the 2025-26 campaign, with a player option for 2026-27.
Durant may not have returned to the Warriors, but he has come back to play five All-Star seasons since his injury. Lillard will hope to make a similar comeback as his recovery process begins this summer.
