There has been some conjecture that star guard Damian Lillard would play as the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs head into Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Due to an Achilles tear he sustained during the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff run last year, Lillard has missed the entire NBA season thus far.Damian Lillard last played for the Portland Trail Blazers on March 22, 2023. The nine-time All-Star hasn’t played in a Blazers uniform in almost three years. Despite all the speculations, Lillard will not play in Game 3 against the Spurs. Although it doesn’t now appear realistic that Lillard will be able to play again against the Spurs, there is a potential he might if Portland were to go far in the playoffs.
Damian Lillard inches closer to return as Portland Trail Blazers weigh series comeback against San Antonio Spurs
In September 2023, Lillard was traded by the Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks. Before the Bucks opted to waive the 6-foot-2 point guard last year, he played for them for two seasons. This comes after Lillard’s season-ending Achilles injury during the NBA playoffs of 2024–2025.Since then, Lillard has been making progress toward his comeback. It appears that he may now make his eagerly anticipated return against the San Antonio Spurs. Lillard swiftly signed with the Trail Blazers, rejoining the team he had begun his NBA career with, after the Bucks let him go during the offseason. Bringing one of the franchise’s icons back home made the move unique for Lillard and the company. Lillard might actually see some action in this series, according to Blazers reporter Bill Oram of The Oregonian. According to Oram’s source, Lillard is “close” to making a comeback, and his prospects of doing so are “not impossible.” Lillard may actually play “deep, deep” in the Spurs series, according to reports. Oram wrote:“A source said Lillard is ‘close’ and that his return before the end of the postseason is “not impossible.” Any appearance would need to be in a later round or “deep, deep” in the series against the Spurs. At a minimum, the team is being open-minded about the possibility..”Tiago Splitter, the head coach of Portland, also gave an update on the 35-year-old. Splitter said after practice: “He’s working out.. He’s trying to get ready to play. When that’s going to be, we don’t know. All I can say is that he’s working out as he always does.”Splitter responded, “Probably not,” when asked if he believed Lillard would make a comeback during the Spurs series. Even though it’s still doubtful, Portland could be able to keep things going long enough to get the star back on the floor if they were to surprise everyone in the postseason. Given that he has never won a championship in his career, Lillard might seize the opportunity to assist this club in making a run at the NBA Finals.
