Damian Lillard reflected on his injury-riddled 2021-22 season and that makes his comeback even more special as the Portland Trail Blazers stake a claim for the playoffs and beyond this season.
Lillard played only 29 games last year as the Blazers failed to make the postseason. However, he has been a regular fixture for the side this season. While he did miss a few games this year, he’s made his presence felt, averaging 28.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists while leading a young and promising Portland unit.
Earlier this week, he had a prolific shooting night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, draining 11 of his attempted 17 shots from downtown. In the process, he tied with the Blazers’ franchise record while also equalling his personal best. He finished with 38 points, 3 boards, and 2 assists, and Portland racked up a comprehensive 133-112 win.
And all of this after going through a lengthy recovery process that tested his physical limits. It was also during this grueling phase that Lillard gained more perspective about life and basketball.
Damian Lillard Opens Up About His Injury: “I Couldn’t Bend, I Couldn’t Run”
Little did Lillard know that the initial pain he felt in 2014 would flare up over the course of his career and eventually sideline him last season. The guard revealed how he thought he was “bulletproof.”
In an exclusive with Men’s Health that also had comprehensive interviews with Jimmy Butler and Zion Williamson, to name a few, Lillard got candid about his injury and the recovery that followed. After he was diagnosed with athletic pubalgia — a condition often mistaken for a sports hernia, the 32-year-old shed light on what it felt like.
“I couldn’t bend. I couldn’t run. It was just really uncomfortable. And I remember limping into the house. I was literally bending over. I started feeling like my body couldn’t do what my mind wanted it to do.”
However, the downtime and recovery also helped one of the greatest clutch players in modern-day NBA realize his priorities.
“They’re not gonna be worried about my life. (referring to fans, the media, and team brass). But my kids, my mom, and my wife will be in my life forever.”
And it was with that realization that Lillard emerged as a new man with a new objective this season. While the season is far from over, he’s already proved to be the backbone as the Blazers sit fourth in the West with a 16-12 record. Only time will tell if he can take the team across the finish line this year.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
