Photo: Peter Baba

Damian Lillard is making it clear that his comeback will not be about survival, but about returning at full strength.

Speaking on The Sideline with Andy Katz, the Portland Trail Blazers guard delivered a confident message as he continues his recovery from a torn Achilles. “I’m not returning as a shell of myself. I plan to return to be myself,” Lillard said, via ClutchPoints.

The veteran guard suffered the injury on April 27 during Milwaukee’s first-round playoff series against Indiana. Just weeks later, the Bucks waived him, stretching the $103 million left on his deal.

In July, Lillard returned to Portland on a three-year, $42 million contract, marking an emotional reunion with the franchise where he spent 11 seasons before his 2023 trade to Milwaukee.

Lillard acknowledged that recovery will take time but dismissed any suggestion that he might return as a diminished version of his former self. His determination reflects the mindset that made him an eight-time All-Star and one of the league’s most resilient competitors.

Asked about the rising number of Achilles injuries across the NBA, Lillard offered his own perspective. “Honestly I think it might have something to do with the pace of the game,” he said.

He explained further: “The game is getting super fast and you dealing with like extremely high level athletes. You know how often guys train. You know how much we play and travel. All of those things, plus changing direction and stopping at the level we compete at, it’s hard on your body.”

The 35-year-old guard enters his second stint with the Blazers after averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists in his final season with the Bucks. Despite his injury, he remains one of the NBA’s most dynamic scorers, posting a career-high 32.2 points per game in 2022–23.

Portland is in a rebuilding phase, and Lillard’s return provides both a veteran presence and a connection to the team’s most successful era of the past decade. His leadership and experience will be crucial as the young roster develops.

The Trail Blazers have not set an official timetable for his return, but Lillard has made it clear that when he does step back on the court, it will be on his own terms — fully ready and without compromise.