Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard is sidelined indefinitely for the NBA playoffs due to deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, discovered after initial assessment for a calf strain on March 18. Treatment involving blood thinners is underway, with a full recovery expected for the 34-year-old, though his return timeline remains uncertain.
Lillard, who has not traveled with the team since diagnosis, has shown positive progress in recent testing according to Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. Given historical cases where players returned six to eight months later post-diagnosis, optimism remains for Lillard's potential return during the playoff run, which begins on April 19 in Indianapolis. However, his absence could extend beyond the playoffs, with the player missing postseason games last year due to an Achilles injury. Despite his impactful performance this season, averaging 24.9 points per game and excelling with a 92.1% free-throw rate, Lillard's health takes precedence in the Bucks' playoff campaign.