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[Saba Sports News] The Milwaukee Bucks may be getting Damian Lillard back much sooner than anticipated.
Lillard was diagnosed last month with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition involving a blood clot in his right calf.
At the time, the Bucks listed him as out indefinitely, prompting concerns about whether he’d be able to return this season—especially after Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama had his campaign cut short due to a similar diagnosis in his right shoulder.
However, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that Lillard has now been “cleared” of the clot and is no longer on blood-thinning medication. Even more encouraging, the star guard has received full clearance for contact activities and has already taken part in a full team practice.
Team officials reportedly described Lillard’s recovery as both “remarkable” and “unprecedented,” noting that cases like his typically take months to resolve. Early detection and proactive treatment are believed to have played a key role in the speedy turnaround.
Lillard had reportedly begun taking blood thinners even before receiving the official DVT diagnosis in March.
Updates on Lillard’s health have been trending positively since the initial scare. While he’s still expected to miss Saturday’s Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, all signs now point to a return at some point during the postseason.
Lillard missed the Bucks’ final 14 regular-season games. The team managed a 10–4 record in that stretch, but having their star guard back could be a major boost for Milwaukee’s title hopes.