Blazers' Damian Lillard Talks 'Mental Challenge' of Achilles Injury Rehab in Video
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard detailed the mental aspect of recovering from a torn Achilles.
"You don't just go from that to 'I'm back on the court,'" Lillard told Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. "It's like three months and then you get to six months and it's still like 'Alright, I'm still getting there.' And then nine months. So, that's why I always say it's just a mental challenge to just stay present and just keep having those small wins. That's what I've been able to do and that's what I'll continue to do."
Lillard suffered a torn Achilles in Game 4 of the Milwaukee Bucks' first-round playoff series defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. He was then waived by the Bucks in order to gain the financial flexibility to sign center Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract.
The 35-year-old didn't remain a free agent for long, as he went on to join the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal worth $42 million. Lillard spent the first 11 years of his career with Portland.
The nine-time All-Star's exact recovery timeline is unknown, but ESPN's Shams Charania reported that he'll use the upcoming 2025-26 season to rehabilitate his Achilles.
