Many Milwaukee Bucks fans have accepted that the team will need to go through the eye of a needle for the rest of the season after Damian Lillard was declared out indefinitely due to a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.
Jan 31, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shows his love for Portland fans during introductions before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shows his love for Portland fans during introductions before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Right now, the main focus of the community regarding Dame is to see him playing again. The latest from head coach Doc Rivers should inject a sigh of relief to these fans.
Rivers suggested that Lillard is making progress, just six days after the announcement of the diagnosis which the Bucks org said was luckily discovered early.
He said his star is picking up basketball already.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers
Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers looks on in the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
“He’s done some shooting. They have a level where he can get to that’s safe and he’s doing that, but it’s still not basketball. It’s not the intensity level of an NBA player, so it’s just hard. It’s hard for him. It’s probably hard for our guys,” Rivers said as quoted by Bucks reporter and The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Lillard produces 24.9 points per game before going down with the injury. He missed games already before the shocking health concern.
Navigating the season without Damian Lillard
The Bucks have lost four straight since the Lillard health news. They have fallen out of the Top 4 in the Eastern Conference standings and are mathematically in danger of falling into the play-in.
Rivers is currently relying on Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins to fill the hole left by the nine-time All-Star.
“It’s going to be a bunch of guys,” he said after the loss to Denver Nuggets.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers talks to guard Kevin Porter (3)
Mar 13, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers talks to guard Kevin Porter (3) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
“You’re not going to replace what Dame does. We may be able to do different things. Defensively, we may do different things, offensively. This is part of it. Everyone goes through them. Obviously, nothing like this, but we’ll figure it out. I’m very confident in our team.”
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