Regular season reimbursement? Lillard s comeback schedule is revealed for the first time

The key news broke in the latest show: Bucks star Damian Lillard is expected to return to the arena within 8 to 10 months after suffering a severe Achilles tendon laceration injury. If the recovery goes well, the All-Star guard may even catch up with the team's key battle for the playoffs next season.

According to Shams, Lillard was injured in Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at the end of April this year. He suddenly fell to the ground without a confrontation and was diagnosed with a tear of left Achilles tendon and successfully completed a repair surgery in early May. Although there are significant individual differences in the recovery cycle of Achilles tendon injuries, the "8 to 10-month return cycle" brought by Shams undoubtedly injected a cardiac enhancement injection into the Bucks fans: "There are signs of optimism that he may return within the 8 to 10-month cycle."

The timing of this news is particularly critical. It is currently a sensitive period for the Bucks, and rumors of another core of the team, "Antetokounmpo", are seeking a deal during the offseason. If Lillard can be confirmed to return in the playoffs, it will undoubtedly greatly enhance the possibility that the Bucks will maintain their existing core competitiveness, and Antetokounmpo's willingness to stay in the team may also increase. If the dual cores can work together in the playoffs, the Bucks' lineup framework for the championship will remain stable.

However, for Lillard, who is about to turn 35, the challenge remains severe. The Achilles tendon injury has always posed a huge test for the player's athletic ability. Whether his signature explosive power, speed and on-field maneuverability have returned to pre-injury levels directly determine his future dominance on the court. After transferring to the Bucks this season, Lillard played 58 regular season games, averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. His ball-holding offense and key ball ability are indispensable weapons for the team.

When the cold winter in Milwaukee was shrouded in the shadow of a playoff defeat, Lillard's Achilles tendon once caused the entire city to silence. The return schedule brought by Shams now is like the first ray of sunshine passing through the clouds - it not only concerns the return time of a star, but also affects Antetokounmpo's choice of staying or leaving and the Bucks' future championship blueprint. Lillard, 35, is standing at the most severe crossroads of his athletic career. Can the scars of the Achilles tendon turn into a medal to return to the top? Time will give the answer, and Milwaukee fans have begun counting down.