What Bucks star faces in recovery

Damian Lillard suffered a critical left Achilles tendon tear in Game 4 of the season, midway through the first quarter. At 34, an age where high-impact sports like basketball pose significant injury risks, this injury comes amid recent deep vein thrombosis concerns, amplifying his recovery challenges. He’ll undergo surgery and controlled mobility early on, followed by reconditioning that may take up to a year for NBA players, potentially delaying return to peak performance. Recovery is typically 10 months but could be longer due to his advanced age, complicating his path back to full athletic capacity in his second season post-surgery.