Well, the NBA was a real-life Disney movie today after Damian Lillard announced he will be returning to the Trail Blazers.
Dame agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract to return to Portland. The deal includes a player option in 2027-28 and a no-trade clause.
Family was a big factor in Lillard’s decision to return to the Blazers, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports:
“Lillard will use the 2025-26 season to rehabilitate his injury, but a return to the franchise and Portland, where his family and children reside were of the ultimate importance, per sources. He also had multiple midlevel exception and minimum offers from NBA contenders, per sources.”
Family really is everything ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7m8HJyRJC6
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) July 18, 2025
The best reactions to the news are below:
RipCityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!! @trailblazers pic.twitter.com/x3jnZr1s0G
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 17, 2025
Dame Dolla back where he should be! @trailblazers got it right 👏🏾
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) July 17, 2025
Damian Lillard Toyota… your owner is back. pic.twitter.com/wUH1Ld0n7A
— Overtime (@overtime) July 17, 2025
If dame can, surely i can too pic.twitter.com/DM0tg6SlHU
— 𝔹𝕠𝕝𝕨𝕣𝕝𝕕 (@BolWrld) July 17, 2025
Damian Lillard and Portland pic.twitter.com/mO0YfaSLex
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) July 17, 2025
The NEW LOOK Portland Trailblazers 🔥
Welcome home, Damian Lillard pic.twitter.com/LluRWPikAL
dame and jrue on the same team pic.twitter.com/w0b3LSUxbg
— red (@bluelemxnade) July 17, 2025
Joe Cronin really traded Dame for Toumani, Jrue, Deni, Rob and Mil picks and got Dame back for free pic.twitter.com/cyeNIqXPZk
— Sayjee (@KSayjee) July 17, 2025
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) July 17, 2025
this nigga Dame traded himself to finally get some help, then came back😭😭😭
— ໊ (@ClassyDameFan) July 17, 2025
Dame walking back into the Blazers facility pic.twitter.com/ReARXfys7y
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) July 17, 2025
Dame went back to his ex and the Bucks still gotta pay most of his salary
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) July 17, 2025
Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers and had seven All-Star appearances and seven All-NBA teams honors.
He led Portland to the playoffs eight times in his career, including a Western Conference finals appearance in 2018-19.
He ranks first in team history in points (19,376) and three’s (2,387), and second in assists (5,151).
Dame all-time ranks as a Blazer:
-1st in points
-2nd in assists
-6th in steals
-1st in threes
-4th in wins
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