Damian Lillard Could Play In 2026 NBA Playoffs; Portland Trail Blazers Prepared To Make Offseason Pitch For Giannis Antetokounmpo

According to Bill Oram of The Oregonian, Damian Lillard could play in the 2026 NBA playoffs and the Portland Trail Blazers are prepared to make a pitch for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.

Lillard, who played two seasons with Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, didn’t play during the 2025-26 regular season because of the torn left Achilles tendon he suffered last April.

Antetokounmpo, who is expected to be traded this offseason, has a close relationship with Lillard.

“However implausible it may seem, the franchise has not completely ruled out the possibility that Lillard could make a surprise appearance in the postseason this year, multiple sources said,” Oram wrote. “Obviously, the longer its run lasts, the more realistic such a long-shot scenario becomes.

“A source said Lillard is ‘close’ and that his return before the end of the postseason is ‘not impossible.’ Any appearance would need to be in a later round or ‘deep, deep’ in the series against the Spurs. At a minimum, the team is being open-minded about the possibility. … Having Lillard back, especially on a bargain $14 million contract, makes the Blazers better on the court, but it also gives the front office greater urgency to go all in and chase other stars. The Blazers are prepared to make a pitch for Giannis Antetokounmpo as long as he is willing to sign an extension but are not likely to limit their options to Lillard’s former Milwaukee teammate.”

As of this writing, the Blazers are down 2-1 to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.

Lillard was waived and stretched by the Bucks last July and signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Blazers. Milwaukee didn’t consult Antetokounmpo before parting ways with Lillard, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.

A top 75 player of all time, Lillard has made nine All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams in his NBA career. He won the 2012-13 Rookie of the Year Award with the Blazers and has career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game with Portland and Milwaukee. The future Hall of Famer is fifth in NBA history in 3-point field goals. 

Last season with the Bucks, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. The guard tore his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 of Milwaukee’s first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Antetokounmpo played in only 36 games this season because of injuries. He averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. The Bucks, who missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2016, went 17-19 when Antetokounmpo played.

Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career with the Bucks. He’s a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to the 2021 championship in six games against the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks have won only one playoff series since then.

Antetokounmpo will make $58.5 million next season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season. The forward is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with the Bucks on October 1. If he declines the extension, Antetokounmpo will be traded, according to Milwaukee co-owner Wes Edens.

Antetokounmpo holds career averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. It will be intriguing to see where he’s playing next season.

Lillard and Antetokounmpo reuniting on the Blazers would certainly be fun to watch. The Bucks went 73-43 in the regular season when Lillard and Antetokounmpo were in the lineup.

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