Damian Lillard Has Reportedly Recaptured His Happiness in Portland

Two years ago, Damian Lillard was traded from his longtime home with the Portland Trail Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks in order to team up with superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. While they produced well together, the team couldn't capture much success in the NBA Playoffs, and with the team cleaning house this offseason, they moved on from Lillard.

That comes after he sustained a serious injury in the postseason this year, with his future in the NBA up in the air as a result. However, there was always one team that made sense as a free agent, with Lillard returning to Portland, the place he spent the first decade of his NBA career.

Now, Lillard has opened up on how that reunion has affected him, and it's safe to say that he's incredibly grateful for how this all played out.

“This is one of the times in my life where I feel extremely happy. Every day, I wake up and I’m thankful. I’m waking up seeing my kids, taking them to school. I can just drive down to my mom’s house. It’s a blessing, man. I couldn’t be happier.”

It's unclear if Lillard is this happy with the direction on the court, but away from basketball, this was clearly the best move for his life and his career.

Around him in Portland, the Blazers have assembled a great mix of veterans and rising stars, and if Dame can get healthy at some point in the 2025–26 season, we may see some vintage Dame Time in Portland.