On Monday, it was introduced that Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard was recognized with a torn left Achilles tendon and can miss the rest of the playoffs.
Lillard, who will flip 35 in July, may additionally doubtlessly miss the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season because of the harm.
The harm occurred throughout the first quarter of the Bucks’ Sunday residence loss to the Indiana Pacers in Recreation 4 of their first-round collection. Lillard was seen stumbling onto the court docket after passing the ball to Gary Trent Jr. and stayed down till Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers and the coaching employees carried him off the court docket.
In accordance with ESPN, Lillard was noticed leaving the sector utilizing crutches and sporting a strolling boot. This can be a important setback for Milwaukee, as it’s on the verge of elimination, trailing 3-1 towards Indiana. They may face the Pacers in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
“I knew it straight away,” Rivers informed ESPN on Sunday. “I felt unhealthy for him; the man tried to return again for his group. I simply felt unhealthy for him.”
Oh no pic.twitter.com/J3Jwfk5p1C
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) April 28, 2025
In his first season with the Bucks in 2023-24, Lillard handled a strained Achilles throughout the group’s first spherical playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. All through the 2024-25 common season, the NBA TOP 75 honoree was additionally recognized with deep vein thrombosis in his proper calf and missed a while for Milwaukee from late March to mid-April earlier than returning.
Lillard participated in and began 58 video games for the Bucks throughout the common season, averaging 24.9 factors, 4.7 rebounds, and seven.1 assists per sport.
“He is one of many hardest — mentally hardest — guys I’ve ever been round, and that is why he’s who he’s,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo informed ESPN. “And I imagine he will overcome each impediment that is going to be in entrance of him.
“All people’s going to be there for him, and it doesn’t matter what the impediment is for him, he will overcome and we’ll assist him overcome it.”
There are lots of questions on whether or not Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee after main the Bucks to a championship in 2021, or if he can be traded within the low season. Lilliard’s harm is one thing that may undoubtedly have an effect on Milwaukee’s determination making within the low season.
Basic Supervisor Jon Horst agreed to a multiyear extension with the Bucks final Thursday. Throughout his tenure, Milwaukee has superior to the playoffs every season since he was employed by the group in June 2017. The final season Milwaukee missed the playoffs was the 2015-16 season. The Bucks had main championship hopes this 12 months, however Lillard’s harm places the franchise at a crossroads second since defeating Indiana on this collection will show to be fairly tough.
