NBA: Damian Lillard Signs Three-Year Deal To Rejoin Portland Trail Blazers After Milwaukee Exit

Damian Lillard has agreed to a three-year, $42million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Lillard appeared to confirm the move with a post social media, tagging the team's official account. 

The contract will carry a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause, according to ESPN.

Lillard is headed back to Portland, where he played the first 11 seasons of his career, after a disappointing and injury-riddled stint with the Milwaukee Bucks that ended in a contract buyout.

A nine-time All-Star selection, Lillard suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon during the Bucks’ first-round play-off loss to the Indiana Pacers, and he is unlikely to play next season.

With Lillard on the shelf, Milwaukee agreed to buy out the remaining $113million on his previous deal – an NBA record – and waived him.

The Bucks stretched Lillard’s remaining salary to create room for free agent center Myles Turner.

Lillard, 35, reportedly had a hard time adjusting to life in Milwaukee after calling Portland his home since he was drafted No. 6 overall by the Blazers in 2012.

When Lillard returns to the court in 2026-27, he will join a team that views itself as growing into a play-off team but in need of a ball-dominant star after trading away Anfernee Simons.

Portland had a 23-18 record in the second half of last season, thanks in large part to an improving defence and young players like Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan.

Lillard made seven All-Star teams in his first stint in Portland and was voted to an All-NBA team seven times.

Lillard has scored 19,376 points in a Trail Blazers uniform, the most in franchise history. His 769 career games with Portland trail only Jerome Kersey (831) and Clyde Drexler (867).