After spending the past two seasons with the Bucks, Damian Lillard – who signed a three-year contract over the weekend to return to the Trail Blazers – is thrilled about getting the opportunity to go “back home” and spend more time with his family in Portland, he said at a press conference on Monday.
“We got back in the car (after signing the contract),” Lillard said, per Lindsay Schnell of The Athletic. “I got to a red light, and my daughter goes, ‘Wait, we don’t have to get on the airplane to Milwaukee no more? You’re gonna be in your house? In Portland? The whole time?'”
In addition to Lillard’s three children, his mother and siblings are all in the Portland area, he noted on Monday, according to Anne M. Peterson of The Associated Press.
Still, even though those family considerations played a major role in his decision, rejoining the team with whom he spent the first 11 years of his NBA career wasn’t just about off-court factors, Lillard told reporters, including Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Substack link).
“When we all sat down and this idea started to move towards me signing back here, I’m going to look at the basketball situation,” he said. “We play basketball and you want to win basketball games. A lot of people may look at it as a family decision, and obviously anybody would have their family be a part of a decision that they make. But this was just as much a basketball decision.
“… I’ve watched the team, even at a distance, and I’ve followed and stayed in touch with what was going on. Looking at how the league is trending and how it’s changing, it’s not the same old thing no more. Young teams that guard and have depth and compete and are connected, this team has all of those things. It’s all there, from the talent to the depth to having it on both sides of the ball, it’s all there.”
Although the Blazers missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year in 2025, their 36 wins were the most they’ve compiled in a season since 2020/21, and many of those victories came in the second half — the club went 23-18 following a 13-28 start. Lillard took notice of that improvement from a distance and suggested on Monday that he views the Blazers as “one of those teams that’s coming.”
While he’ll likely spent the entire 2025/26 season recovering from an Achilles tear he suffered in April, the 35-year-old expressed optimism about eventually returning to form. In the meantime, he’s looking forward to getting a chance to mentor the club’s younger players.
“One thing that I’ve missed over the last two years playing on an older team is, I’m able to be more and give more when I have something to pour into,” Lillard said. “When I’m invested in others’ careers more. Having the opportunity to do that, especially having a young, rising point guard like Scoot (Henderson) that I’m gonna be playing with now, and Toumani (Camara) and Deni (Avdija) and Shaedon (Sharpe), who I was with his rookie year.
“Being around those guys and having so much to share and being able to pour into them and be a part of their continued progress is something that elevates me as a player and as a teammate and as a leader. I’m looking forward to that as well, even when I’m playing.”
The Trail Blazers used their full $14,104,000 mid-level exception to sign Lillard, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. His salary will dip slightly to $13,398,800 in year two, followed by a third-year player option worth $14,104,000.
And money….hence the player option year 3 ( A mechanism to squeeze an ext year 2 if alls well)
Ida pushed to have that thrown outta court more if I was Por brass
Its a feel good story, and it does check that box, but I don’t see as many on court/ledger benefits to this for Por as the crowd does
I like what’s cooking in the cauldron for Por but I just don’t trust Chef Cronin
Best thing for Por fans is if they can get a sell and new front office in by next June
I wouldn’t have gone Jrue and Dame but for where they are at the finances wont be damaging of any sorts…yet
Yeah well this is why you don’t run a team. Anyone who is against Dame coming back at this price. Is just a straight up Hater. He isn’t playing the first yr. So Holiday can mentor and play. By TD he will bring back good value. Blazers have a chance to make the play-in. Its called a Young team Growing. Dame will get his chance to show next year. There is nothing going on with Dame this year. Why is it so called basketball fans can’t see that. If anyone should pay him to heal. It should be Portland. It’s that simple.
Yeaaaa, it was truly admirable for Dame to make MORE money this year to rehab
Top 2 paid NBA players in 2025
Dame 70 M
Steph 60 M
I understand being emo is en vogue but lets just not totally kick reality to the curb quite yet
*Year 3 should have been a team option not player at bare min . Theres a lotta love in this relationship but its been a bit one sided for many years and Dame has been the benefactor at every turn
This is such a confusing attempt at making a point. Milwaukee decided to pay Dame and let him leave. Portland decided to bring him back. What do either of those things have to do with Dame’s “admirability”?
It seems like you’re suggesting that Dame should’ve either gave back the money that Milwaukee let him have or that he should have signed for free in Portland. Both options are completely senseless.
What I’m saying is its always been Dame friendly in Portland and this contract is more of the same
Al stated If anyone should pay him to heal it should be Portland….that makes zero sense
No I dont think Dame needed 70 M this year but good on him for getting it
Yes I do think Portland should have gotten a 3rd year team option rather than a player option, but as its always been Dame has the ace of spades in Por….even at 35 w a busted Achilles
I DO happen to find it odd today in 2025 the red carpet being rolled out here to such an extent . Yea Ida tryed to pinch him more on the contract with just walking away empty handed a perfectly viable option. Relationships work both ways or they usually dont work at all
I kind of agree that they overpaid. It’s a nice PR feel good move I guess but they do not seem like a serious organization right now. The point is to win but they seem content to collect a bunch of random dudes and be mediocre at best. Maybe it all works out but i don’t see the vision. They need to pick a path at some point
No duh!
Although he is one of the most overrated players in recent memory, it’s nice he’s with his family making tons of money doing nothing with no expectations. He’s more comfortable in that type of situation. Haliburton made him look foolish. The Bucks will be better without him….he’s absolutely worthless on defense. He can still avg. 25 ppg but too bad he gives up 30. Super entertaining player, just never impacted winning that much, particularly when it really mattered in the playoffs
Anyone tell him he didn’t need to leave in the first place? He makes it sound like he was drafted and went to war.
If he doesn’t leave there is no Toumani or Deni. Still have an additional pick from the trade in 29 with two swaps from Milwaukee in 28&30 that probably will turn into lottery picks.
Basketball decision….lol
Dame will never be the same again after this injury… POR will regret the big contract they gave to him, but I suppose he can always be the vet, right?