Damian Lillard is officially back with the Portland Trail Blazers, but for the time being, it's in more of an "assistant coach" role as he continues recovering from his torn Achilles. Due to the severity and time of the injury, Lillard's age, and Portland's rebuilding timeline, it's expected that Lillard will miss the entirety of the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Blazers fans are eager to see Lillard back out on the court in the jersey he belongs in, and rightfully so. But unfortunately, there's also a serious question about what version of Lillard Portland will be getting. Blazers insider Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report recently wrote about expectations for Lillard's return and how impactful he will be on the court.