Latest news with #ChaunceyBillups
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Damian Lillard says he's happy to be 'back home' with Trail Blazers, gives update on Achilles recovery
Damian Lillard couldn't be happier to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard offered up enthusiastic remarks about coming back to the team, saying he was glad "to be back home." Lillard made those comments during an introductory presser Monday. Lillard was reintroduced as a member of the Trail Blazers after signing a three-year, $42 million deal with the team after he was surprisingly waived by the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason. Lillard, who was drafted by the Trail Blazers with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, seemed elated to be returning to the franchise, per the Associated Press. "Just knowing that I'm going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I've driven on pretty much my entire adulthood, my whole family being here, my mom, my brother, my sisters, all my friends around the city of Portland," he said. "All of those things count. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon." While Lillard, 35, is back with the team, his second debut with the franchise will have to wait. Lillard tore his Achilles in the playoffs, and is unlikely to play the entire 2025-26 NBA season. Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups joked that Lillard will be "the highest-paid assistant coach in league history" next season. Lillard didn't provide an exact timeline for his return, but said he would take his time to make sure he's fully healed when he gets back on the court. When healthy, Lillard produced like one of the top scorers in the NBA. Last season, he averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists over 58 games. His season was initially cut short after doctors discovered a blood clot in his right calf. Despite plenty of uncertainty, Lillard recovered in time to play in the postseason. His return lasted just three games before he tore his left Achilles. Due to Lillard's age and injury, there's plenty of uncertainty about his return to Portland. While his NBA future remains cloudy, that won't stop the fans from giving Lillard a deafening cheer the first time to takes the court in his return.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Injured Damian Lillard is grateful to be 'back home' with the Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — It hit Damian Lillard as he drove home with his kids after signing a contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. He was coming home. Lillard's three children, Damian Jr., 7, and twins Kalii and Kali, 4, accompanied him to sign his three-year, $42 million deal with the Blazers over the weekend. The contract includes a no-trade clause and he can opt out after two seasons. 'Just knowing that I'm going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I've driven on pretty much my entire adulthood, my whole family being here, my mom, my brother, my sisters, all my friends around the city of Portland,' he said. 'All of those things count. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon.' Lillard made his fist public comments about the deal at a news conference on Monday night with Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and general manager Joe Cronin. Lillard played for Portland for his first 11 NBA seasons before he was traded, at his request, to the Milwaukee Bucks before the start of the 2023-24 season. A nine-time All-Star, the 35-year-old Lillard is beloved in Portland, known for pointing to his wrist to signify 'Dame Time' after making big shots. But he's not going to be be back on the court at the Moda Center any time soon. Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon during a first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers and required surgery that will likely sideline him for the 2025-26 season. The Bucks waived him earlier this month and stretched the remaining $113 million on his contract over five years. 'I told him that this year he's going to be the highest-paid assistant coach in league history because I'll be putting in the work every day,' Billups said. Lillard didn't rule out the possibility of coming back this season, but Cronin said the team would wait 'as long as it takes.' 'My prideful self would be thinking differently, but I think with age, you get wiser,' Lillard said. 'Like Joe said, it's going to be ultimately what's best, I think, to take the as much time as possible to make sure that I'm right, that's what I'll do.' Lillard ranked 10th in the league in scoring (24.9) and assists (7.1) this past season while earning his ninth All-Star selection. But he was limited to 58 games by deep vein thrombosis. He averaged a career-high 32.2 points his final season in Portland. That season, he became just the seventh player in NBA history to score more than 70 points in a game when he finished with 71 against the Houston Rockets. Portland won only four playoff series during Lillard's tenure, getting to the Western Conference finals once. Lillard always insisted there are no hard feelings over his separation with the Blazers. He wanted to try and chase a championship with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, while Portland was focused on developing young players like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Lillard, who has a signature shoe deal with Adidas, hinted during an event at the company's North American headquarters in 2024 that he might be willing to return to the Trail Blazers. He never imagined that an injury would speed up the timeline. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 draft by Portland, Lillard holds franchise records for points (19,376) and 3-pointers (2,387). He had five games of 60 or more points with Portland. For his career, Lillard has averaged 25.1 points and 6.7 assists. He was the 2013 Rookie of the Year and was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary team in 2021. He won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Lillard said his kids finally understood the significance of his homecoming during that drive home over the weekend. 'I got to a red light, and I just turned around and my daughter was looking at me and I told her,' Lillard said. 'And she was like, 'Wait, so, like, we don't have to get on an airplane to Milwaukee no more?'' ___ AP NBA:
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Damian Lillard returns to Portland, eyes fresh start back ‘home' after Bucks exit
PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard's role for the upcoming season is clear, according to Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. 'He's gonna be the highest-paid assistant coach in league history,' Billups joked, 'because I'm gonna be putting him to work every day.' Monday marked the return of Portland's favorite son, as Lillard met with the media to discuss an earlier-than-anticipated homecoming. Last week, the nine-time All-Star signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Blazers two years after requesting a trade following 11 seasons as the face of the franchise. Advertisement Lillard, the sixth pick of the 2012 draft who had long promised to stay loyal to Portland and not leave to chase a championship in a bigger market, sat alongside Billups and general manager Joe Cronin and talked about his decision to return to the Rose City. 'It never felt right, not being home,' Lillard said, as a screen with the words 'THESE ROOTS RUN DEEP' shone to his right. 'When I have to make a decision, a lot of thought goes into it. This decision wasn't hard at all.' For all the fanfare with Lillard returning, there is also the stark reality that he will likely miss next season while rehabbing a torn Achilles. It was that injury that prompted the Milwaukee Bucks to waive Lillard, a stunning move that NBA insiders later clarified actually gave him leverage, allowing him to sign wherever he wanted. It turned out that place was back home, close to his three children — Dame Jr., 7, and 4-year-old twins Kali and Kalii. Lillard spoke candidly the last few years about the challenges of being 2,000 miles away from his children. And yet, he stressed Monday that this was as much a basketball decision as a family one. He has watched Portland the last two years, often wondering 'how do I fit in?' He is convinced that Portland is poised to compete for a title with a young core.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Injured Damian Lillard is grateful to be 'back home' with the Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — It hit Damian Lillard as he drove home with his kids after signing a contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. He was coming home. Lillard's three children, Damian Jr., 7, and twins Kalii and Kali, 4, accompanied him to sign his three-year, $42 million deal with the Blazers over the weekend. The contract includes a no-trade clause and he can opt out after two seasons. 'Just knowing that I'm going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I've driven on pretty much my entire adulthood, my whole family being here, my mom, my brother, my sisters, all my friends around the city of Portland,' he said. 'All of those things count. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon.' Lillard made his fist public comments about the deal at a news conference on Monday night with Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and general manager Joe Cronin. Lillard played for Portland for his first 11 NBA seasons before he was traded, at his request, to the Milwaukee Bucks before the start of the 2023-24 season. A nine-time All-Star, the 35-year-old Lillard is beloved in Portland, known for pointing to his wrist to signify 'Dame Time' after making big shots. But he's not going to be be back on the court at the Moda Center any time soon. Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon during a first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers and required surgery that will likely sideline him for the 2025-26 season. The Bucks waived him earlier this month and stretched the remaining $113 million on his contract over five years. 'I told him that this year he's going to be the highest-paid assistant coach in league history because I'll be putting in the work every day,' Billups said. Lillard didn't rule out the possibility of coming back this season, but Cronin said the team would wait 'as long as it takes.' 'My prideful self would be thinking differently, but I think with age, you get wiser,' Lillard said. 'Like Joe said, it's going to be ultimately what's best, I think, to take the as much time as possible to make sure that I'm right, that's what I'll do.' Lillard ranked 10th in the league in scoring (24.9) and assists (7.1) this past season while earning his ninth All-Star selection. But he was limited to 58 games by deep vein thrombosis. He averaged a career-high 32.2 points his final season in Portland. That season, he became just the seventh player in NBA history to score more than 70 points in a game when he finished with 71 against the Houston Rockets. Portland won only four playoff series during Lillard's tenure, getting to the Western Conference finals once. Lillard always insisted there are no hard feelings over his separation with the Blazers. He wanted to try and chase a championship with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, while Portland was focused on developing young players like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Lillard, who has a signature shoe deal with Adidas, hinted during an event at the company's North American headquarters in 2024 that he might be willing to return to the Trail Blazers. He never imagined that an injury would speed up the timeline. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 draft by Portland, Lillard holds franchise records for points (19,376) and 3-pointers (2,387). He had five games of 60 or more points with Portland. For his career, Lillard has averaged 25.1 points and 6.7 assists. He was the 2013 Rookie of the Year and was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary team in 2021. He won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Lillard said his kids finally understood the significance of his homecoming during that drive home over the weekend. 'I got to a red light, and I just turned around and my daughter was looking at me and I told her,' Lillard said. 'And she was like, 'Wait, so, like, we don't have to get on an airplane to Milwaukee no more?'' ___ AP NBA:
Fox News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Chinese NBA rookie reveals dad's crucial advice before embarking on basketball journey
The Portland Trail Blazers acquired the draft rights to 7-foot-1 center Yang Hansen out of China this summer in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, and he's looking to make an immediate impact. Yang, 20, is relatively unknown to fair-weather basketball fans. He's been playing basketball in China since he was in elementary school and eventually made his way to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), playing for the Qingdao Eagles. He was a CBA All-Star in 2024 and 2025 and named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year before he was brought up in NBA circles. He's set to become a key part of the Trail Blazers under head coach Chauncey Billups. Yang, whose father Yang Lin was a pro basketball player, opened up about why he decided to play basketball in an interview with The Washington Post. He told the paper that he was set to quit sports altogether at the age of 8 when he refused to practice outside in the heat. His father urged him to work hard at something that could help him get into college. According to the report, Yang tried several sprots before he returned to basketball. "I wasn't that good at school, and I was a little bit of a fat boy," he told The Washington Post. "My father told me to try some sports, figure out what you want to do and lose some weight. My father told me: 'Don't become fat.'" Yang is set to become the ninth Chinese NBA player when he eventually takes the floor for Portland. He will follow in the footsteps of the legendary Yao Ming and former star Yi Jianlian. Cui Yongxi is the only other active Chinese player. He played five games for the Brooklyn Nets last season, but his year was cut short when he tore his ACL in a G League game. Yang acknowledged the pressures that will come from being from China and playing in the NBA. "It's a lot of pressure, for sure," he told the newspaper. "I just want to show the people in China I'm doing good. Before I headed to the States, Yao called me and shared some of his experiences. He told me to enjoy your food, enjoy your drinks, enjoy your sleep and enjoy everything. "Yao is the icon for Chinese basketball. He's special. I'm just a rookie. I can feel a lot of expectations and anticipation on me. Yao is number one in paradise. Compared to him, I'm cold ash in a pot." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
