Damian Lillard: Patience Key to Success

Recently guest on the Road Trippin’ Show on Prime Video, Damian Lillard spoke about the progress of his rehabilitation after his ruptured Achilles tendon. The leader of the Blazers is not trying to rush things, and he assures that he will take the time he needs. At 35, there is no question of skipping steps.

“It’s going very well,” he explains about his rehabilitation. “It’s the kind of injury where you have to take your time. It takes as long as it takes. The first weeks, even the first two or three months, are quite frustrating because you are very limited. But with patience, being kind to yourself, and doing what it takes to keep progressing, you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. »

Present at the Blazers warm-up

Unlike Jayson Tatum who could return after the All-Star Game, Damian Lillard chose to take advantage of a white season to return to 100%. A long-term bet.

“I feel very good about this decision — even better today than when I made it”he continues. “Progressing in rehabilitation and seeing that everything is gradually coming back is reassuring. The main worry is always: ‘How am I going to move after this?’ So regaining all my sensations, being able to manage unpredictable movements, a little contact, picking up the pace, being in the air, falling without thinking too much about it… That kind of thing. »

In fact, he believes he has reached a key milestone, one where the body begins to respond naturally again, without ulterior motives. This week, we saw him during the Blazers’ warm-up before the match against the Mavericks.

“Now that I’m here, I feel even more comfortable with having given myself as much time as possible,” he concludes. “And when I look at our team and the progress we have had, I know that if I come back as expected, we will have a real card to play next season. »

Damian Lillard				Percentage			Rebounds
Saison	Team	MJ	Min	Shots	3pts	LF	Off	Def	To	Pd	Fte	Int	Bp	Ct	Pts
2012-13	BY	82	39	42.9	36.8	84.4	0.5	2.6	3.1	6.5	2.1	0.9	3.0	0.2	19.0
2013-14 ☆	BY	82	36	42.4	39.4	87.1	0.4	3.1	3.5	5.6	2.4	0.8	2.4	0.3	20.7
2014-15 ☆	BY	82	36	43.4	34.3	86.4	0.6	4.0	4.6	6.2	2.0	1.2	2.7	0.3	21.0
2015-16	BY	75	36	41.9	37.5	89.2	0.6	3.4	4.0	6.8	2.2	0.9	3.2	0.4	25.1
2016-17	BY	75	36	44.4	37.0	89.5	0.6	4.3	4.9	5.9	2.0	0.9	2.6	0.3	27.0
2017-18 ☆	BY	73	37	43.9	36.1	91.6	0.8	3.6	4.5	6.6	1.6	1.1	2.8	0.4	26.9
2018-19 ☆	BY	80	36	44.4	36.9	91.2	0.8	3.8	4.6	6.9	1.9	1.1	2.6	0.4	25.8
2019-20 ☆	BY	66	38	46.3	40.1	88.8	0.5	3.8	4.3	8.0	1.7	1.1	2.9	0.3	30.0
2020-21 ☆	BY	67	36	45.1	39.1	92.8	0.5	3.7	4.2	7.5	1.5	0.9	3.0	0.3	28.8
2021-22	BY	29	36	40.2	32.4	87.8	0.4	3.7	4.1	7.3	1.3	0.6	2.9	0.4	24.0
2022-23 ☆	BY	58	36	46.3	37.1	91.4	0.8	4.0	4.8	7.3	1.9	0.9	3.3	0.3	32.2
2023-24 ☆	MIL	73	35	42.4	35.4	92.0	0.5	3.9	4.4	7.0	1.8	1.0	2.6	0.2	24.3
2024-25 ☆	MIL	58	36	44.8	37.6	92.1	0.5	4.2	4.7	7.1	1.7	1.2	2.8	0.2	24.9

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.