Damian Lillard is seeking guidance after his devastating injury.
Damian Lillard has been a major topic of discussion recently, following his Achilles tear and subsequent waiving by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lillard suffered a torn left Achilles tendon during the Bucks’ first-round playoff exit and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season. Milwaukee later waived the veteran point guard, stretching the remaining $113 million on his contract over the next five years to create cap space to sign Myles Turner.
A nine-time All-Star, Lillard now enters free agency while recovering from an injury that has historically altered the careers of even the league's biggest names. However, he wouldn’t be the first aging superstar to return to All-Star form after an Achilles tear.
MORE: Damian Lillard responds to critics with confidence in free agency message
During a recent appearance on the Mind the Game podcast, Kevin Durant revealed that Lillard had reached out to him for advice on the recovery process.
“Of course, you know JT and Dame hit me up — I feel like I’m the Achilles guy,” Durant said. “I feel like a lot of guys have bounced back and became themselves again. Mine is the most popular, but I feel like a lot of guys have bounced back that I took inspiration from when I was going through my journey.”
“I’m starting to feel like the Achilles guy”
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 8, 2025
KD says Tatum & Dame reached out after their Achilles injuries 🙏
(via @mindthegamepod) pic.twitter.com/OvBAGRMy4p
Durant sustained a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the 2019 NBA Finals while playing for the Golden State Warriors. He signed with the Brooklyn Nets that offseason but missed the entire 2019-20 campaign. The 2013-14 NBA MVP returned to action in the 2020-21 season and has since earned five consecutive All-Star selections.
If any superstar knows how to return from a devastating Achilles injury, it’s Durant, and Lillard certainly appears to be hearing him out as he progresses in his recovery.
MORE NBA NEWS:
Category: Basketball
