Damian Lillard Torn Achilles: Recovery Time For Bucks PG + Damian Lillard Injury History
As was feared when Damian Lillard went down on Sunday evening, the worst-case scenario came to be - a torn Achilles tendon. Although the Milwaukee Bucks are already down 3-1 to the Indiana Pacers in the first round, it’s still a massive blow to Giannis Antetokounmpo and company. With more than meets the eye, we’ve covered all things regarding the Damian Lillard torn Achilles.
Damian Lillard Torn Achilles: Out For Rest Of Season/Playoffs
While a Damian Lillard torn Achilles is the breaking news of the day, let’s not forget that the All-Pro point guard was just returning from deep vein thrombosis in his calf. That was a scary enough situation, and in fact, he even missed Game 1 against the Pacers to open up the playoffs.
Even when he returned, the Bucks lost Game 2, and while they bounced back with a victory after that, their season was already looking bleak. With that in mind, a Damian Lillard torn Achilles means far more than just a shortened playoff run - where does it leave Milwaukee for the future?
Torn Achilles Recovery Time: How Long Does It Take?
Unfortunately, the Damian Lillard torn Achilles is far from the first of this injury that we’ve seen, especially recently. It’s starting to feel as though they’re becoming more and more common, although many have been in the NFL as of late. Of course, there is still the infamous Kobe Bryant torn Achilles tendon.
While Dame Time may have some Black Mamba in him, this is still an injury that takes significant time to heal from. We’re looking at anywhere from 8-12 months for a return from a Damian Lillard torn Achilles, and although we saw former New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers try and defy that timetable last year, it ultimately didn’t come to fruition
Damian Lillard Salary, Bucks Depth Chart & Damian Lillard Injury History
After being one of the NBA’s top point guards for 13 seasons now, it’s no surprise that the Damian Lillard salary is a substantial one. This season alone, the former Portland Trail Blazer made just north of $48.7 million. That comes thanks to a two-year extension with the Bucks worth $112 million total, running through the 2025-26 season.
However, a Damian Lillard torn Achilles now begs the question - will he even be a part of the Bucks depth chart next year? We already noted his recent calf issue, and even as recently as 2021, Dame had abdominal surgery, causing him to miss 47 games.
While a Damian Lillard torn Achilles is bad enough, it’s not the only factor at play for Milwaukee’s future. As of now, they have Kevin Porter slotted as the #2 point guard on the depth chart, who scored 23 points in 33 minutes in Game 4 after Dame went down.
What Does This Mean For The Bucks Championship Hopes & Next Year?
We’ve been alluding to it since the start, as the Damian Lillard torn Achilles now heightens the biggest concern in Milwaukee - will Giannis Antetokounmpo want out after this season is done and dusted. For the Bucks, that could be as recently as tomorrow night in Indiana for Game 5.
Giannis has remained faithful to the franchise throughout his career, as the team has made moves to build around him, perhaps most notably, adding Damian Lillard. However, it’s starting to feel as though everything has run its course, so it will be fascinating to see the 2025-26 NBA Finals odds for the Bucks after this year’s title is won.
That also means that it’s never too early to join DraftKings Sportsbook, where new members can snag a guaranteed $200 sign up bonus with no DK promo code needed after becoming a new member through us!
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Podziemski was 3-of-14 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. His 22.5 field goal percentage in this series is the worst for any player (min. 35 attempts) since Pero Antic shot 16.7 percent in the Hawks vs. Pacers series in 2014, according to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. Down 3-1 in the series now, the Warriors need Stephen Curry to return from his hamstring injury for Game 5, a miracle or both to get back in this series.
Jimmy Butler had 14 points (5-of-9 FGs), six rebounds, three assists and one block in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Monday.
Despite the Warriors win in Game 1, Butler warned in postgame interviews that Stephen Curry is the team’s best player and it was going to be difficult to win games without him. After what’s transpired over the last three games, which the Warriors have all lost, he might’ve been underselling it. Butler wasn’t able to fill Curry’s shoes in Game 4. In fact, he was a team-worst -30 in 34 minutes in the seven-point loss. The Warriors will have their backs against the wall facing elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Julius Randle had 31 points (11-of-21 FGs), five rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers in Game 4 against the Warriors on Monday.
Anthony Edwards had 30 points (11-of-21 FGs), four rebounds, five assists, two steals and six three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-110 victory over the Warriors in Game 4 on Monday.
Derrick White had 23 points (6-of-12 FGs), three rebounds, two assists and six three-pointers against the Knicks in Game 4 on Monday.
White was the Celtics second leading scorer in Game 4, but he was the only consistent scorer for Boston outside of Jayson Tatum. The 30-year-old point guard got all of his points on six three-pointers and five free throws. Unfortunately for the Celtics it wasn’t enough as Boston was trailing when Tatum went down with a lower leg injury in the final minutes, essentially taking a comeback off the table. The Celtics will look to stave off elimination with their backs against the wall at home in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Jayson Tatum had 42 points (16-of-28 FGs), eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, two blocks and seven three-pointers against the Knicks in Game 4 on Monday.