According to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, Damian Lillard has always had the plans of making a return to the Portland Trail Blazers before his retirement.
Even before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, he reportedly told people his plan of making a return to Portland.
“In just two years, I probably wouldn’t have believed it,” Lillard said in late July at his introductory news conference. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect this to happen at some point, but for it to happen this soon, I wasn’t expecting this.”
Ultimately, his plan of returning home was sped up due to his Achilles tear. Once that happened and the Bucks no longer wanted him, Lillard was ready to return to Portland and enact his plan.
By the time Lillard is able to rejoin the Blazers, he will be 36 years old when he is fully healed from his Achilles injury.