After the dominant career he had, no one would blame Damian Lillard if he moved away from the League at this stage – especially after his recent health problems.
The Milwaukee Bucks star was first sidelined with a blood clot at the end of the regular season, and Then he torn his left Achille Only three games in his return in match 4 of their series of opening playoffs with the Indiana Pacers on Sunday evening. This has now forced him to readjust to the end of his NBA career.
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But the 34 -year -old apparently already plots his return for a 14th season in the League next fall.
“He said two things I love,” said Bucks Doc Rivers trainer on Tuesday Before their loss of 119-118 in overtime against the Pacers in match 5who ended the series, .
“The first, he just said,” I can't believe I'm here. “Then the second is” I do not go out that way “. I can guarantee that he will not do it, and that is what I meant in his determination.”
Lillard collected an average of 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game this season, his second with the Bucks. It was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in its right calf in March, which knocked it out for several weeks. Many expected the blood clot, which is the same thing as the star of San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, would hold him out for the rest of the regular season.
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Lillard, however, was allowed to come back for the playoffs. He returned to match 2 and lost 14 points in the defeat of the Bucks, then scored seven points during their victory in match 3. Lillard fell in the first quarter of Sunday defeatwho dropped the dollars into a hole of 3-1. The bucks almost extended the series on Tuesday evening too, however, however, Tyrese Haliburton hit a lay-up with less than two seconds In the additional period to seal the victory of a point for the Pacers and officially put an end to the series.
Lillard will now have to spend the coming months to recover, and he will probably be absent for a good part of next season, which will also do it. He has two years left for him as part of a maximum contract extension which he signed for the first time with the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard will earn around $ 54 million next season, then he has a player option of $ 58.5 million for the 2026-20 campaign.
Although it is a crucial off -season for the Bucks, and we do not know what the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the organization will be after another release in the playoffs, Lillard is determined to take over the court before retirement.
“It's incredible,” said Rivers. “He already talks about his return and to be better and to be ready. We have had a long conversation on this subject too.”
