Damian Lillard is back — and apparently, he didn't lose a step.
The Weber State alumnus and Portland Trail Blazers point guard is making his highly anticipated return to the court ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, nearly a year after a torn left Achilles tendon wiped out his entire 2025-26 campaign. For most players, that injury is a career inflection point. For Lillard, it appears to be a footnote — at least judging by what's coming out of practice.
Lillard posted a photo of his shooting percentages from a recent practice session, and the numbers were eye-catching enough to draw reactions from across the league. Among those taking notice: new Trail Blazers teammate Ja Morant, who publicly responded to the post. The pairing of Lillard and Morant — two of the most electric offensive guards of their generation — is already generating buzz around Portland's rebuild, and Lillard's early shooting display only adds fuel to that storyline.
The Achilles is the most feared injury in professional basketball. It has derailed or diminished the careers of stars at every level, and it typically demands a full season — sometimes more — before a player resembles their former self. Lillard's practice numbers suggest he may be bucking that trend, though preseason workouts are a long way from playoff minutes.
Still, the optics matter. For a franchise and a fan base that watched helplessly as their franchise cornerstone sat out an entire year, seeing Lillard post and perform with evident confidence is a meaningful signal. And for Weber State alumni keeping tabs on the NBA's most decorated product from Ogden, Utah, the footage couldn't be more welcome.
Lillard was drafted 6th overall in 2012 out of Weber State, where he developed the work ethic and deep-range shooting that would eventually make him a perennial All-Star. His recovery from one of basketball's most serious injuries appears to be progressing on a timeline that has the rest of the league paying attention — starting with his new backcourt partner.
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