Damian Lillard To Miss Remainder Of Season With Torn Achilles
Apr 28, 2025, 1:15 PM | Updated: Apr 29, 2025, 9:53 am
Since winning a championship in 2021, the Milwaukee Bucks have failed to even get back to the Eastern Conference Finals even after trading for Damian Lillard in 2023, and barring an unreal comeback against Indiana, who hold a 3-1 series lead, the pattern will likely continue.
The Bucks are one loss away from elimination in the first round, and they will have to play all their remaining games without star point guard and former Weber State Wildcat Damian Lillard, who tore his left Achilles tendon in a game 4 loss on Sunday evening.
Just in: Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard has been diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon, sources tell ESPN. MRI today revealed the severity. A devastating end to his season. pic.twitter.com/ysZ0nw8gxW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 28, 2025
After a decisive 117-101 win on their home floor in game 3 against the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks had their sights set on tying the series in game 4. However, those hopes were quickly dashed as the task became exponentially more difficult, not even six minutes into the game.
Both teams were still finding their legs, and the Pacers led 15-12. The Bucks had possession, but the shot clock was running down, so Gary Trent Jr. pump faked and hoisted a three from the right wing, trying to draw a shooting foul.
No foul was called, and the ball bounced off the back iron and shot right back to the point. Lillard saw it coming and shifted his weight forward to go retrieve the rebound, but his first step nearly sent him to the ground.
Hobbled, he batted the ball back to Gary Trent Jr., then went down and instantly grabbed his left ankle. Play continued around the injured Lillard, eventually going the other way, where Milwaukee had to play 4-on-5 until Brook Lopez fouled Myles Turner to draw a whistle.
Kyle Kuzma ran to help Damian to his feet, but he would require assistance to get to the locker room, unable to put any pressure on his left leg.
From the moment the injury occurred, the speculation was a ruptured Achilles tendon, and the unfortunate news was confirmed on Monday morning by Shams Charania following further evaluation.
damian lillard injurypic.twitter.com/rGkMJ7t428
— ◇ (@H00DH3R0) April 28, 2025
It has been an injury-riddled end to the season for Lillard, capped off by the torn Achilles tendon. Damian made his return from injury earlier in the series against the Pacers after missing the final 14 regular-season games and the first playoff game with deep vein thrombosis in his other leg.
Next Up For The Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks will face an elimination game without their point guard on Tuesday, April 29, at 4:00 p.m. MT in Indianapolis. Milwaukee needs a win to extend its season.
About Damian Lillard
Before his time as a professional, Lillard was a standout player for the Weber State men’s basketball team. He left Weber State as the program’s second-leading scorer all-time.
Lillard played for the Wildcats from 2008-12.
He scored 1,934 points during his time as a Wildcat. His jersey was retired by the university in 2017.
Lillard was drafted by Portland with the 6th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. During his first decade in the league, the former Wildcat became a perennial NBA All-Star and one of the best at his position.
In 2022, Lillard was recognized as one of the NBA’s 75 greatest players in history.
Following the 2022-23 campaign, the Blazers traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Before the 2023-24 season, Lillard had played his entire professional career in Portland.
