Nine-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard (Achilles recovery) is not expected to suit up for the Portland Trail Blazers in their ongoing first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.
However, if the Blazers can upset the Spurs and advance to the second round, there’s an outside chance that Lillard can rejoin his teammates.
According to Oregon Live’s Bill Oram, the Blazers have not closed the door on a Damian Lillard return in the ongoing playoffs.
“However implausible it may seem, the franchise has not completely ruled out the possibility that Lillard could make a surprise appearance in the postseason this year, multiple sources said,” Oram reported on Thursday.
“Obviously, the longer its run lasts, the more realistic such a long-shot scenario becomes. “I wouldn’t rule anything out,” a source said, “or get too excited about anything.”
Damian Lillard Return Timeline
Oram’s report added that the possibility of a Lillard return only heightens if the Blazers can upset the Spurs in the first round.
“A source said Lillard is “close” and that his return before the end of the postseason is “not impossible,” Oram reported on Thursday, April 23.
“Any appearance would need to be in a later round or “deep, deep” in the series against the Spurs,” Oram added.
“At a minimum, the team is being open-minded about the possibility.”
Damian Lillard Injury Update
The momentum behind a potential Lillard return has only intensified amid social media teases from the Blazers. On Thursday, Blazers coach Tiago Splitter was asked whether the team’s social media activity was meant to prepare the world for Dame Time.
“He’s working out,” Splitter said after Thursday’s practice.
“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.”
When asked if Lillard could return against the Spurs, Splitter said, “Probably not.”
Lillard, who suffered a torn Achilles during last year’s playoffs, joined the Blazers as a free agent last summer after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Earlier this year, Lillard said he was “excited” to join his teammates next season.
“I’m really excited to play with them, I’m watching every game from the bench, and I can just see the potential of the team,” Lillard told Forbes’ DJ Siddiqi.
“I can see that for them individually and for us as a team. I see where I can have an impact on these guys and on this team.”
Lillard believes he can be a positive influence on blossoming superstar Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson, and the rest of the Blazers’ young core.
“…I think me joining this team, still having a lot of good years left, and a better young team we got a great opportunity to jump right in that mix with a real opportunity to to win big,” Lillard said about next season. “I’m excited about that.”
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