Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter indicated Lillard’s focus is on the next season, joking about his status while stressing that the veteran guard has a clear plan and will stay involved from the sideline.
Lillard’s return to Portland last July came with a three-year, $42 million contract that includes a no-trade clause and a player option for 2027-28. He arrived after being waived by Milwaukee, which will continue to pay the remainder of his deal over five years.
His two years in Milwaukee saw him serve as a secondary star behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, and his signing in Portland was framed as mentorship for a young core that includes Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Toumani Camara, complemented by veterans Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant, and Robert Williams.
This season, Portland’s young group energized the franchise, sweeping into the play-in and securing the No. 7 seed to face the No. 2 Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama. Avdija was a standout, scoring 41 points in the play-in win that helped lock the series against San Antonio.
Lillard has said returning home to Portland was a no-brainer, emphasizing how being closer to family factored into his decision and his long-term plan with the franchise that drafted him sixth in 2012.
The Blazers’ playoff matchup marks the Spurs’ first postseason appearance since 2019, and Game 1 of the series is scheduled for Sunday, April 19 in San Antonio, followed by Games 2, 3, and 4 in the ensuing days.
