General manager Joe Cronin announced Saturday that Lillard has been officially signed to a multi-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.
PORTLAND, Ore. — It’s official: Damian Lillard is a Blazer once more.
General manager Joe Cronin announced Saturday that Lillard has been signed to a multi-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he was originally selected No. 6 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. In 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers, Lillard averaged 25.2 points, 6.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. In the past two seasons with the Bucks, he averaged 24.6 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
The Blazers, including Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups, will re-introduce Lillard on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Moda Center.
Contract officially signed! ✍🏽 https://t.co/bcrxbPxIjQ
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 19, 2025
Earlier this week, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the team’s all-time leading scorer was signing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to Portland, almost two years after Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lillard had also confirmed announced his return on social media, sharing a video a video panning across the Trail Blazers’ locker room, ending with Lillard’s nameplate and a “Together Again” message with Lillard’s signature.
Lillard won’t be playing right away, instead spending the 2025-26 season rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon. The plan is for him to return to the court for Portland the following season.
Portland fans rejoiced over the news, welcoming the return of the beloved nine-time All-Star selection and seven-time All-NBA selection.
Even if he’s not on the court this season, fans were optimistic that Lillard could mentor guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
With Lillard, the Blazers had made the playoffs in eight of Lillard’s seasons, advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 and the Western Conference Semifinals in 2016 and 2014. He also won a Gold Medal with the United States Men’s National Team at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.