Damian Lillard will miss much of the 2023-22 NBA season.
The Trail Blazers star is reportedly planning to have surgery to treat a “lingering abdominal injury” and will be re-evaluated in several weeks, though it seems possible he may be out longer.
Damian Lillard plans to have surgery in the near future to treat a lingering abdominal injury, sources told ESPN. The procedure is not expected to end the season, but that remains to be determined.
—Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) January 12, 2023
What’s next for Lillard? Here’s everything we know about his injury and the latest news on when he can return to the pitch.
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What is Damian Lillard’s injury?
Lillard’s injury is classified as abdominal tendinopathy. It’s something he’s been dealing with for some time.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Lillard flared up over the summer while playing for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics. On December 8, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that Lillard underwent a cortisone injection procedure to “mitigate the pain that he’s been dealing with for the past few years,” adding that the pain had reached a “deepest point.” intense” before the procedure.
After missing five straight games, Lillard returned to the lineup on December 12. He played in nine straight games before being sidelined again, posting averages of 29.6 points, 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds in .413/.363/.846 shooting divisions.
Lillard last played on December 31, 2023.
How long will Damian Lillard be out?
It is unknown how long the Trail Blazers will be without Lillard.
Lillard is said to be out for at least six to eight weeks, but Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that his return to the game will depend on “his health and where the team is in the standings.”
In a Twitter thread, Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes gave some insight into the type of injury Lillard could be dealing with.
One of the big problems is terminology. Terms such as sports hernia and athletic pubalgia are often used to describe injuries to the area, but the term central muscle injury (CMI) has recently been pushed for adoption. It’s a general term, but it’s not always that misleading. 2/5
—Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) January 12, 2023
Most CMI repairs in the NBA are done in the off-season, but there are a few cases that occurred during the season, including Grant Hill, Chucky Atkins, and Mike Miller. Although these players returned to action about 2 months after surgery, the details of each case remain unique. 4/5
—Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) January 12, 2023
Lillard’s injury is described as an abdominal tendinopathy, but even this can refer to the rectus abdominis (6 pack) or the adductors (groin). Hopefully more details will emerge after the surgery. It is worth mentioning that the history of POR can also influence your recovery window. 5/5
—Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) January 12, 2023
The Trail Blazers currently sit 10th in the Western Conference standings with a 16-24 record. That’s good enough for them to be in the Play-In picture, but only three games separate them from the Thunder in 14th place.
The Trail Blazers have made the playoffs eight straight seasons, the longest active streak in the NBA.
UPDATE (January 13, 2023): Lillard is now expected to be re-evaluated in five to six weeks, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard tells @YahooSports that he is “feeling fine” after undergoing successful surgery on his abdomen this morning in Philadelphia, which was performed by Dr. William C. Meyers, and is now expected to be re-evaluated in 5-6 weeks.
—Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 13, 2023
Damian Lillard Career Stats, Highlights
- 24.6 points per game
- 6.6 assists per game
- 4.2 rebounds per game
- 1.0 steals per game
- 2.8 turnovers per game
- 43.7 percent shooting
- 37.3 percent shooting from 3 points
- 89.3 percent free throw shooting
