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A Damian Lillard injury update was much needed for Portland Trail Blazers fans this week.
With the star guard confirming his participation in the NBA’s 3-Point competition, the All-Star needed to once again clarify that he’s still in active recovery from his Achilles injury and won’t play this year.
“I’m running my own race,” Lillard said recently, according to The Athletic.
“If I was 23, 24, 25, I probably would be more (competitive) about who is doing what, but I know where I am physically. I can feel it. I’m on the court every day, and to me, it’s not about what (Tatum) is doing. After the season, I’m going into a full summer to get ready for next season, and I want to make sure that I’m 1,000 percent and that I can play every year for the rest of my career as the best version of myself. So, I’m not in a hurry, especially knowing that I’ve got time. That’s the game I’m playing.”
Lillard, like the rest of the league, has seen some rapid progression from players who suffered similar setbacks during last year’s playoff run.
For the 35-year-old veteran, he isn’t worried about anybody but himself. Getting back to one-hundred percent for the start of his second stint with the Blazers is his top priority. Is he close? Lillard won’t say.
“I can do a lot, that’s where I’ll put it,” he said, via The Athletic.
Can the Blazers Compete With Lillard Next Year?
The million-dollar question in Portland!
The Blazers-Lillard pairing didn’t happen for the feel-good vibes. When an injured Lillard was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks last summer, he wanted his next destination to be in a contending situation. The Blazers aren’t, but they most likely feel like they will be soon enough.
This season, the Blazers are showing a lot of progression. With the All-Star break approaching, they are 9th in the Western Conference, holding a 26-28 record. As long as Lillard can get bak to how he was playing pre-injury, the Blazers should be in great shape.
During his latest run with the Milwaukee Bucks, Lillard averages 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds, while shooting 37 percent from three.
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