Damian Lillard ruled out for remainder of Blazers' season

Posted March 21, 2022 7:00 am

The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Lillard had abdominal surgery on Jan. 13, and it was widely expected he would not return. The Blazers made it official on Monday.

The team said that Lillard has 'Å“progressed well through the reconditioning phase of his rehab protocol" and has reached performance benchmarks. He will continue the rehab process.

Lillard said he had been bothered by lower abdominal tendinopathy for several years, but it flared up during the Tokyo Olympics.

A six-time All-Star, Lillard averaged 24 points and 7.3 assists in 29 games this season for the Blazers.

Portland is 26-44 this season and in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Blazers are in a rebuilding phase after trading away three starters - including Lillard's backcourt teammate CJ McCollum - at the February deadline.

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FILE - Portland Trail Blazers' C.J. McCollum, left, and Damian Lillard are shown during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Philadelphia. The New Orleans Pelicans have acquired guard C.J. McCollum from the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a seven-player trade, according to two people familiar with the situation. The people spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been made official. The trade marks the end of an era in Portland, where McCollum has been paired with Damian Lillard in the backcourt since 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) The Associated Press

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