Bucks’ Damian Lillard out indefinitely with blood clot in calf: ‘I’m grateful Bucks acted quickly’

Bucks All-Star guard Damian Lillard is out indefinitely after it was learned he has a blood clot in his right calf, the team announced.

Lillard confirmed the news to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

“It’s unfortunate that something outside of my control would come up,” Lillard told Haynes. “Along with the Bucks’ medical staff, our priorities are to protect my health and safety. As much as I love basketball, I need to be there for my kids and my family.

“I’m grateful the Bucks acted quickly on this. They’ve been supportive and proactive throughout this process. I look forward to moving past this and continuing my career.”

Milwaukee was 40-31 and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. That includes a 4-6 mark over the last 10 games.

“Difficult season for us,” star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo told Sam Amick of The Athletic. “A lot of injuries, trades. We’ve played great basketball at times. We’ve played bad basketball at times. But we’re still here, still standing. I feel like when we lock in as a team, and we go out there and we play together, and we play to win, and everybody does what it requires to win and they stay within their role, I think we’re a very good team.

“We’re a big team. We have big-time players who can close games. We have great, great role players — great role players, man. We have ballhandlers, people who can create their shots and create plays from starters and people off the bench.”

The Lillard news means the Bucks will now have to try to be even more resilient with the playoffs less than a month away.