Damian Lillard comes full circle, rejoining Portland on 3-year, $45 million deal: Source

PORTLAND, Ore. —  As Damian Lillard amassed awards, franchise records and iconic shots during his 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, he would often reference a word that meant as much to him as the accolades: journey.

It mattered to him that he formed genuine, heartfelt connections with everyone, from the practice facility security guard to the longtime head of ticket sales. It mattered to him that Portland, and the broader Pacific Northwest, valued his work ethic and felt a kinship with his underdog mentality. It mattered to him that Portland was a place where he could raise a family and live year-round. 

Now, after a two-year stint that took him from Portland to the Milwaukee Bucks, that journey may have its storybook ending. On Thursday, Lillard agreed to return to the Blazers by signing a three-year, $45 million contract that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season and a no-trade clause, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.

Lillard, who turned 35 on Tuesday, will be unavailable for the first year of that contract as he rehabilitates from surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon, torn during the Bucks’ series loss to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.

“My relationship to the city, and the fans here, the organization… It’s never-ending,’’ Lillard said when he first returned to compete against the Trail Blazers after joining the Bucks in 2023. “(Portland) is a huge part of my journey, an important part of my journey. And I will always appreciate that and I will always hold that close to me.”

Lillard dramatically announced his decision on Instagram by panning through each of the stalls, complete with player nameplates overhead, in the Trail Blazers’ locker room. The final stall revealed he had assumed his old locker.

Lillard’s locker will be next to third-year guard Scoot Henderson, whose selection as the third pick in the 2023 draft prompted Lillard to request a trade. At the time, Lillard wanted the Blazers to use the pick to lure in more NBA-ready talent who could help satisfy his thirst for a title. Now, Lillard will compete against and mentor Henderson, along with veteran Jrue Holiday, whom Portland acquired in an offseason trade. 

When Lillard left Portland, it wasn’t without hard feelings. He felt misled by general manager Joe Cronin, who talked about building a winner around Lillard, but who continually shipped out talent like CJ McCollum, Norm Powell and Josh Hart, while fielding rosters designed to lose, increasing the team’s chances in the lottery. Lillard asked for a trade to the Miami Heat, but Cronin instead dealt him to a Milwaukee team that would make playoff runs in 2024 and 2025 before losing in the first round both years.

The Blazers drafted Lillard sixth overall in 2012, and he quickly rose to stardom, earning Rookie of the Year honors. He was a seven-time All-Star in Portland, where he averaged 25.2 points per game. Lillard’s departure sparked debate over whether he is the greatest Trail Blazer of all time, and he left as the franchise leader in points (19,376), 3-pointers and free throws. On top of that, Lillard ranks second in assists — 168 behind Terry Porter — and third in games behind Clyde Drexler and Jerome Kersey.

He also authored two of the most dramatic playoff moments in franchise history: a 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left to eliminate the Houston Rockets in 2014, and a 50-point game that included a game-winning 37-footer to eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019. 

Lillard spent the last two seasons in Milwaukee, where he was an All-Star both seasons. He played only 58 games in 2024-25 while working through deep vein thrombosis (DVT). He was able to return during the postseason, but tore his Achilles in Game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round series against the Pacers.

In Milwaukee, Lillard found that increased talent around him doesn’t always equate to more success. He missed his three children, who were still living in Portland, and he missed the connection, the appreciation and the embrace he felt so tightly in his former home.

Then, in July, the Bucks released Lillard to create financial flexibility. His journey suddenly needed another chapter. So when Lillard posted the video message from inside the Trail Blazers locker room, it included a simple message at the end:

Together Again. 

(Top photo of Damian Lillard gesturing to Portland fans in 2024: Troy Wayrynen / USA Today Sports via Imagn Images)