Back to Rip City: Lillard’s Story Comes Full Circle

Dame Time Returns: The Prodigal Son’s Journey Back to Rip City

The logo shot. The wave goodbye to OKC. The impossible buzzer-beaters. Today, all roads lead back to where it all began.

The Homecoming Nobody Saw Coming

As Damian Lillard agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Trail Blazers, Rip City is about to witness basketball poetry. This isn’t just another signing—it’s the return of a king to his rightful throne.

The numbers tell one story: a 35-year-old guard coming off a devastating Achilles injury, signing for far less than his peak value. But the narrative runs deeper. Expected to miss most of 2025-26 recovering, this isn’t about immediate returns—it’s about reclaiming Portland’s soul.

The Numbers That Built a Legend

During his 11-year Portland tenure (2012-2023), Lillard became the franchise:

• Career averages: 25.1 points, 6.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds

• Three-point legacy: 2,051 career makes (franchise record, 10th all-time NBA)

• Efficiency: 22.4 PER (highest in Trail Blazers history)

• Peak moment: 71-point explosion in 2023

A PER of 22.4 isn’t just good—it’s the statistical signature of sustained excellence over a decade.

The Milwaukee Mistake

The 2023 trade to Milwaukee was supposed to be Lillard’s championship coronation. Instead, it became a cautionary tale. After the Bucks stretched his $113 million contract following his playoff Achilles injury, Lillard found himself waived and yearning for home.

The Perfect Deal

The new contract includes a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause—details that reveal this reunion’s true nature. At $14 million per year, Portland gets remarkable value while Lillard gets something money can’t buy: the chance to control his narrative.

Portland’s post-Lillard wilderness tells the story: 27-55 record, missed playoffs, league’s sixth-worst performance. The team that once made consistent playoff runs suddenly found themselves in the NBA’s basement.

The Legacy Play

Even while rehabbing, Lillard’s impact on Portland’s young roster—particularly guards like Scoot Henderson—cannot be overstated. This nine-time All-Star brings a master class in NBA survival that extends far beyond the $42 million investment.

The statistical precedent for Achilles recoveries at age 35 isn’t encouraging, but Lillard’s game has always been predicated on shooting and basketball IQ rather than pure athleticism. His ranking as the 10th-greatest three-point shooter in NBA history isn’t just a Portland record—it’s basketball immortality.

Dame Time, Portland Time

Lillard’s career began with historic achievement in Portland colors: joining Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson as the only players with 20+ points and 10+ assists in their NBA debut. Now, more than a decade later, he has the opportunity to conclude it the same way.

The numbers tell us Damian Lillard was great. The context tells us he was great for Portland. The reunion tells us that sometimes, the most important statistics can’t be measured: loyalty, redemption, and the immeasurable value of coming home.

In Rip City, Dame Time isn’t just about clutch shots. It’s about the intersection of individual excellence and collective identity. It’s about a player and a city that found each other, lost each other, and somehow found their way back.

Welcome home, Dame. Portland never stopped believing it was your time.