Portland Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter has not ruled out the possibility of Damian Lillard returning during the NBA playoffs, calling the scenario “not impossible” despite the star guard missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles tendon.
The Trail Blazers evened their first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs at 1-1 on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, after stealing Game 2 on the road. The development has renewed speculation about Lillard’s potential comeback, especially after Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with a concussion following Game 2.
Lillard, who returned to Portland in free agency last summer after 11 seasons with the franchise, suffered the Achilles injury although playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in last year’s playoffs. Monday, April 21, 2026 marked one year since the injury occurred.
According to reports from The Oregonian cited by multiple sports outlets, the Trail Blazers organization is being “open-minded” about the idea of Lillard playing in the postseason this year. A source told the newspaper: “I wouldn’t rule anything out or get too excited about anything.” Another source indicated Lillard is “close” to returning and that his appearance before the end of the postseason is “not impossible.”
However, any potential return would likely come only if the Blazers advance deep into the playoffs. The same source noted that an appearance would necessitate to be in a later round or “deep, deep” in the series against the Spurs. At minimum, the team is maintaining an open-minded stance about the possibility.
The Trail Blazers’ social media accounts have fueled speculation, posting a video on April 22, 2026 of Lillard taking shots with the eyeballs emoji (👀) ahead of Game 2. Lillard himself engaged with the cryptic posts by sharing his own workout video after winning the 3-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend in February 2026.
When asked about Lillard’s status after practice on Thursday, April 24, 2026, Coach Splitter said the nine-time All-Star would “probably not” play against the Spurs in the current series. “He’s working out,” Splitter said. “He’s trying to get ready to play. When that’s going to be, we don’t know.” Splitter added that he could only confirm Lillard is working out as he always does.
The situation has drawn comparisons to Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, who tore his Achilles 13 days after Lillard did so in the 2025 playoffs. Tatum has since returned to the Celtics’ lineup and is playing at a high level, though Boston remains a more realistic title contender than the current Trail Blazers squad.
Lillard has not played a single game this season as he continues his recovery from the Achilles tear. Three-hundred and sixty-two days have passed since the injury occurred in what turned out to be his final game for the Milwaukee Bucks.
While optimism is growing among fans about a dramatic playoff return, Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter emphasized that Lillard making an appearance during this series against San Antonio would probably take an unexpected turn in his recovery. It would likely require a deep playoff run for Portland to seriously consider activating their all-time leading scorer.
The Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs are scheduled to play Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday, April 26, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Game 4 will follow on Sunday, April 28, 2026, also in Portland.
As the series shifts back to Portland, the Trail Blazers will need to navigate the absence of the injured Wembanyama while monitoring any developments regarding Lillard’s rehabilitation progress. No official timetable for his return has been established by the team or medical staff.
For continued updates on Damian Lillard’s status and the Trail Blazers’ playoff push, check official team channels and verified sports news outlets.
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