On Monday, it was announced that Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the playoffs.
Lillard, who will turn 35 in July, could also potentially miss the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season due to the injury.
The injury occurred during the first quarter of the Bucks’ Sunday home loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of their first-round series. Lillard was seen stumbling onto the court after passing the ball to Gary Trent Jr. and stayed down until Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers and the training staff carried him off the court.
According to ESPN, Lillard was spotted leaving the arena using crutches and wearing a walking boot. This is a significant setback for Milwaukee, as it is on the verge of elimination, trailing 3-1 against Indiana. They will face the Pacers in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
“I knew it right away,” Rivers told ESPN on Sunday. “I felt bad for him; the guy tried to come back for his team. I just felt bad 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 dealt with a strained Achilles during the team’s first round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. Throughout the 2024-25 regular season, the NBA TOP 75 honoree was also diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf and missed some time for Milwaukee from late March to mid-April before returning.
Lillard participated in and started 58 games for the Bucks during the regular season, averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game.
“He’s one of the toughest — mentally toughest — guys I’ve ever been around, and that’s why he is who he is,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo told ESPN. “And I believe he’s going to overcome every obstacle that’s going to be in front of him.
“Everybody’s going to be there for him, and no matter what the obstacle is for him, he’s going to overcome and we’re going to help him overcome it.”
There are many questions about whether Antetokounmpo will remain in Milwaukee after leading the Bucks to a championship in 2021, or if he will be traded in the off-season. Lilliard’s injury is something that will definitely affect Milwaukee’s decision making in the off-season.
General Manager Jon Horst agreed to a multiyear extension with the Bucks last Thursday. During his tenure, Milwaukee has advanced to the playoffs each season since he was hired by the team in June 2017. The last season Milwaukee missed the playoffs was the 2015-16 season. The Bucks had major championship hopes this year, but Lillard’s injury puts the franchise at a crossroads moment since defeating Indiana in this series will prove to be quite difficult.
