Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the first quarter of Sunday`s Game 4. He fell and immediately clutched his left leg, clearly in significant pain and appearing surprised by what had just happened.
Many athletes who have torn their Achilles describe feeling as though someone kicked them in the back of the leg. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the foot and transmits energy for pushing off the ground, necessary for both normal walking and powerful jumps.
At age 34, Lillard falls into the typical age group for Achilles tears among elite athletes. His sport, with its constant jumping, running, and sharp movements, increases the risk of such an injury, as these actions place load on the tendon through alternating tension and explosive contractions.
Shortly before this, in March, Lillard had been sidelined due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Blood clots in veins, often forming in the calves, are treated with blood thinners and rest to prevent their migration. While this treatment is necessary, it leads to a loss of physical conditioning due to the inability to train. Contact sports are prohibited while on blood thinners because of the risk of bleeding. Return to play is only possible after discontinuing the medication.
Furthermore, when an athlete returns after an injury that sidelined them for weeks or months, a period of physical reconditioning is always required. This ramp-up period depends on numerous factors: the nature of the injury, the duration of the break, the level of activity during that time, the specific demands of the sport, and the athlete`s psychological readiness.
Return timelines can be influenced by the schedule, especially if there`s urgency to return quickly (e.g., for the playoffs). However, detailed discussions about potential risks are held between the athlete, the medical staff, and other relevant parties. It`s impossible to say definitively whether Lillard`s several-week absence increased his risk for an Achilles tear, but it was likely an unfortunate combination of risk factors that led to the tendon injury.
What matters now is Lillard`s recovery and his outlook for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Surgery will follow soon, succeeded by a very controlled return of mobility. Some athletes are put in a cast for a short period; others use a removable boot. Either way, movement is strictly controlled in the early weeks while the tendon heals. Maintaining ankle joint mobility is important, but protecting the tendon from overstretching is essential. The Achilles` elasticity is critical for its function; excessive lengthening after repair makes it non-functional, like an overstretched rubber band. After healing, a more intensive increase in range of motion and strengthening begins, followed ultimately by a return to running, jumping, and other explosive movements.
Athletes` return-to-play time typically ranges from six months to a year. NBA players average about a 10-month recovery. The duration depends on the overall healing process, regaining physical fitness, and the seasonal calendar. Thanks to improved surgical techniques, athletes are increasingly able to resemble their pre-injury form, but each case is unique. Most report fully regaining their explosiveness only by their second season of competition after surgery.
According to scientific data on NBA players returning after this injury, most of those (70-80%) who return to play do not reach their previous performance levels in terms of games played, minutes, and efficiency. This statistic is complicated by the fact that many players sustain such injuries late in their careers, when their metrics might have already been declining.
Nevertheless, it`s worth considering examples of other players in the league and their recovery timelines to better understand Lillard`s path back to the court.
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Kobe Bryant: Perhaps the most famous NBA player to return from an Achilles injury. He was also 34 years old when he was injured in the 2013 playoffs. He had surgery in April and returned in December that year. Bryant returned relatively quickly but lacked explosiveness. The following year, his season ended prematurely due to shoulder surgery. The subsequent season was his last.
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Klay Thompson: His situation is somewhat unique, as he tore his Achilles while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals, which forced him to miss an entire season. As he was nearing a return for the 2020-21 season, he tore his Achilles. He ultimately returned midway through the 2021-22 season at age 31. As expected, he played fewer minutes, and his shooting efficiency was down. However, the following year, Thompson bounced back, playing four more minutes per game and setting personal bests for three-pointers and rebounds.
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Kevin Durant: Tore his Achilles during the 2019 Finals while with the Golden State Warriors. Notably, during his recovery, he signed a four-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets, which indicated the club`s confidence in his ability to return at an elite level. Durant missed the entire 2019-20 season but returned the following year and looked strong. He played only 35 games that season (mostly due to other injuries) but performed at a vintage level when he was on the court. Perhaps the 18-month gap between the injury and return helped boost his post-recovery performance metrics. Durant`s case suggests that NBA players in their 30s can indeed return to their previous level after an Achilles tear.
