Teammates report the superstar looks explosive and "fresh" in camp, fueling optimism for his comeback following a devastating Achilles tear suffered during his stint in Milwaukee.
Damian Lillard's return to the Portland Trail Blazers comes with plenty of questions after the star guard suffered a torn Achilles at the end of the 2025 season while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks, but his teammates are already providing some encouraging answers.
Lillard is working his way back from one of the most serious injuries an NBA player can suffer, making his progression throughout training camp and the preseason worth watching closely. There will naturally be some uncertainty surrounding how quickly he can get back to his previous level, especially after spending significant time away from the court.
Inside the Trail Blazers' locker room, though, Lillard's teammates have liked what they have seen so far, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic.
“Dame looks like Dame,” Jrue Holiday said.
That short assessment from Holiday carries plenty of weight. Holiday has played against Lillard plenty of times before and understands what makes the veteran guard so difficult to defend. Seeing Lillard look like himself again, even at this stage of his career while coming back from a serious injury, is an encouraging development for a Trail Blazers team hoping to see its longtime star make an impact.
Scoot Henderson offered a similar assessment when discussing Lillard's return, pointing toward the same explosiveness and confidence that have defined him throughout his career.
“He looks fresh. I think it’s the same Dame that we all know of. Dame Time,” Henderson said.
Henderson's comments are particularly notable considering the role Lillard could have around a young Portland roster. Lillard does not necessarily need to carry the same workload he did during his first stint with the Trail Blazers, but his experience, shot-making ability and leadership could still be extremely valuable.
The Achilles injury makes Lillard's eventual workload one of the biggest things to monitor. Even if he looks like himself in practices, translating that into NBA games is a different challenge. Portland will have to be mindful of his minutes and progression as he continues rebuilding his strength and conditioning.
Still, hearing teammates describe Lillard as looking fresh and like the player they remember is about as positive as the Trail Blazers could hope for at this point in his comeback.
There is still a long road ahead before Lillard can fully prove where his game stands after the injury. For now, however, the early impressions inside Portland's locker room suggest that the familiar version of Dame is starting to reappear.
