After 11 loyal seasons playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard now has a new place to call home. But it doesn’t mean he’s forgotten about where he came from, or in this case, where he started his NBA career.
The All-NBA point guard’s desire to pursue a chance to win an NBA Championship led him to the Milwaukee Bucks, but there could be a scenario where Lillard someday returns to where it all began.
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Could Damian Lillard return to Portland Trail Blazers?
On Wednesday night, Damian Lillard returned to Portland for the first time since becoming a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. As you can imagine, emotions filled the air at Moda Center, with thousands of fans showing their love and support for the former face of the franchise.
Lillard scored 25 points on 23 shots and chipped in seven assists to go with six rebounds and a steal. Yet, the Blazers got the last laugh, surprisingly winning by three points despite facing a Bucks squad that entered NBA games today in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Before the game tipped off, Lillard addressed the media, where he revealed a fascinating bit about his future- one that he says will eventually include a return to Portland.
“This is always how I’ve felt my career would end.”
Damian Lillard saying he sees himself finishing career with Portland Trail Blazers
Lillard mentioned that he still watches several Blazers games, keeping close tabs on his former teammates and where the organization is headed.
While this may sound like music to Blazers fans’ ears, Lillard is under contract with the Bucks through the 2025-26 season. After that, he has a $58.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season. This means that if he’s deadset on a return to Portland, we may not see Lillard back in a Blazers uniform until he turns 37 years old.
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