Damian Lillard may have been pleased when the Milwaukee Bucks decided to part ways him, but that does not mean the reports of tension between the two sides are accurate.
After the Bucks stunned the NBA on Tuesday by waiving Lillard, reporter Chris Haynes suggested that some recent issues between Lillard and the team may have led to the outcome. Haynes said on NBA TV that Lillard had requested to rehab from his torn Achilles in Portland so he could be closer to his family, but the Bucks were not going to allow it.
“I was informed that Aaron Goodwin, Damian Lillard’s agent, about a month ago reached out to the Bucks and informed them that Dame would like to rehab back home in Portland, stay with his kids and rehab back in Portland. I was told that some people within the Bucks did not approve of that, so there was kind of some back and forth right there,” Haynes said. “Dame wanted to be with his kids and rehab. That’s what he’s doing right now. So, I think that might have got the ball rolling or at least put some ideas in the heads of the Milwaukee Bucks that kind of led to this decision.”
Chris Haynes: "Aaron Goodwin, Damian Lillard's agent about a month ago reached out to the Bucks and informed them that Dame would like to rehab back home in Portland and stay with his kids…and I was told that some people within the Bucks did not approve of that" pic.twitter.com/wTUBmD6Bu8
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) July 2, 2025
Lillard says that report is false.
The Instagram account Courtside Buzz shared a post on Wednesday about Haynes’ report, and Lillard responded with a comment. The star point guard wrote,” They did approve it tho (sic).”
Damian Lillard responded to the report about the Bucks not letting him rehab in Portland.
— Steve DelVecchio (@SteveDelSports) July 3, 2025
"They did approve it tho" pic.twitter.com/rZRMcDb36g
Haynes also reported that Lillard was “elated” when the Bucks decided to waive him and stretch the remaining $113 million on his contract. Though, that has more to do with Lillard now being able to join a contender on a team-friendly deal.
If Lillard does want to rehab in Portland, he now has the option of waiting to sign with a team. He will not be ready to return from his torn Achilles until late in the 2025-26 season, if at all.
Lillard has already drawn plenty of interest, and that interest is reportedly mutual with at least one top Eastern Conference team.
Lillard will turn 35 later this month. The nine-time All-Star remained plenty productive when healthy last season, as he averaged 25.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.
