The NBA world was stunned when insider Shams Charania reported that Damian Lillard is expected to sign a three-year deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. After two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, the seven-time All-NBA guard is heading back to the franchise that drafted him in 2012 — and according to Charania, the move is about much more than just basketball.
Lillard, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Blazers history, still holds the franchise records for more points scored (19,376) and three-pointers made (2,387), and he ranks second in assists (5,151). Now, at age 35, he’s coming back to where his career began.
Charania reported that Lillard’s return was driven by personal motivations rather than on-court factors. Being close to his family — especially his three children — was the primary reason behind the decision.
“Being home in Portland, being back with his three kids, was by far the biggest, most important factor in Damian Lillard returning to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers,” Charania said on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
“He was going to spend the year rehabbing his Achilles tear in the Portland area anyway. So, returning to the Blazers franchise, even though he requested a trade just two years ago, was something he deeply cared about,” he added.
Lillard’s desire to return to Portland reportedly began after suffering a torn left Achilles tendon during Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs while playing for the Bucks against the Indiana Pacers. The veteran guard initially requested to do his rehab in Portland, but Milwaukee declined the request.
Once the Bucks waived Lillard to make room for Pacers big man Myles Turner, several teams expressed interest in signing the nine-time All-Star. “Boston, Minnesota, dozens of other teams had minimum and mid-level exception offers out to Damian Lillard in the last several weeks,” Charania noted.
But ultimately, it was the opportunity to be back home — surrounded by family and returning to the city where he built his legacy — that tipped the scales in favor of Portland.