Bucks Damian Lillard - PHOTO BY ROB FERGUSON/USA TODAY SPORTS/REUTERS CON
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) – As the Bucks prepare to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night in Portland, Bucks point guard Damian Lillard is leaving the door open to returning to the team that drafted him.
“I see there being a time where I play for the Trail Blazers,” Lillard said, according to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. “But it won’t be right now. I play for the Bucks. To accomplish what we want to accomplish, you’ve got to be all in on that. And I was traded, and I’m all in to try to accomplish that here.”
He also spoke about returning to Portland for the first time since being traded, saying, “I think it will be emotional because I care. I loved playing in Portland. I loved living there and still live there. I’m not like a big crier. I don’t think I’ll be crying and all of that. But I care. Everything I ever said about my time in Portland playing there, I meant that. So, yeah, it will be.”
Lillard hasn’t been scoring at his usual rate this season, with Milwaukee averaging 25.1 points per game compared to 32.2 points per game last season with Portland. However, having star players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton to help carry the scoring load and adapting to his already second-different coach in Milwaukee has been seen as a large reason for his drop in scoring.
Lillard can become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025–2026 season and does have a player option for the 2026–2027 season that could keep him in Milwaukee if the team can find success in the playoffs during his tenure.
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