Blazers’ Chauncey Billups On Damian Lillard’s Return: ‘We Never Wanted To See Him Go’

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups has a very specific role for the injured Damian Lillard for the 2025-26 NBA season.

“I told him that this year he’s going to be the highest-paid assistant coach in league history,” Billups joked to reporters, via Micahel Scotto of HoopsHype.

Billups was speaking at a press conference to announce Lillard’s return to the franchise. While there was some awkwardness — if not outright bad blood — when Lillard requested a trade two years ago, it’s clearly over now.

After all, Lillard agreed to a reported three-year, $42 million contract to return to the franchise that drafted him. He is expected to miss all of next season after suffering a torn Achilles in the first round of the playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks.

It ended an unceremonious stint for Lillard with the Bucks, who lost in the first round in each of his two seasons there. When he left the Blazers, multiple reports (and his agent) repeatedly said he would only play for the Miami Heat.

Then, when the Bucks waived him at the start of NBA free agency, the Heat again were rumored to be a team on his radar. Instead, it’s back to Portland.

“I think if we’re all being honest, we obviously never wanted to see him go, and even when he did, we all wanted to see him back,” Billups said.

Lillard, 35, spent the first 11 years of his career with the Trail Blazers. He has made nine All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams. 

Last season, he appeared in 58 games with Milwaukee, averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 44.8% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and 92.1% from the free-throw line.

“I want to thank (GM Joe Cronin) and Chauncey, because for this to be possible we all had to be on the same page about it,” Lillard said. “Like they both said, it never felt right not being home. Through it all, I found my way back.”

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