Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard missing the first round of the NBA playoffs. Since then, he’s missed the past 14 regular season games due to a blood clot in his right calf. Before the injury eventually sidelined him, the 34-year-old nine-time All-Star was averaging career bests of 24.9 points and 7.1 assists. His performance was phenomenal to say the least. Realistically, the Bucks will want to keep Lillard as healthy as possible. That’s job number one. To stabilize the clot, he’s been on blood-thinning medication.
Lillard recently posted a promising update on his situation, sharing that his blood clot has begun to shrink. Even with this great update, he has not yet been given the green light to return to basketball activities. His return to the court remains a matter of speculation. There’s no assurance he’ll be able to play when the team moves on to their next playoff-round matches.
“Damian’s most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved which will enable him to move ahead safely with increased basketball activity,” said Jon Horst, the Bucks’ general manager.
The team remains cautious regarding Lillard’s recovery. He’s been living under extreme protocols to keep his compromised health condition from being exacerbated. “Damian’s health remains our No. 1 priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damian’s progress,” Horst added.
Bucks preparing for their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers. They will need to formulate a plan for Game 1 without their best player. Coach Rivers acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Lillard’s return, stating, “There’s no guarantee we are going to have him.”
The Bucks will be cautious with Lillard’s condition as they ramp him up on-court, but this is a promising development as they can hope for a fast recovery. Unfortunately for him, at least for now, he is still on the shelf and the rest of his playoff future is uncertain.
Leave a Reply