Damian Lillard returns to the Trail Blazers on a 3-year deal worth $42 million

PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard is back where he started

PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard is back where he started.

Lillard signed a three-year deal worth $42 million to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been officially announced.

ESPN first reported the deal.

Lillard, 35, was the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Trail Blazers and spent 11 seasons with Portland before he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks just before the 2023-24 season.

Lillard posted a video to his Instagram of the Trail Blazers’ locker room, ending with a frame of a locker labeled with his name, followed by the words “Together Again.” And he wrote "RipCityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!”