Milwaukee Bucks Star Damian Lillard Sheds Light on Calf Injury After Two-Game Absence

Nov 13, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) warms up before the game against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Damian Lillard returned to action on Monday night to help the Milwaukee Bucks take down the Chicago Bulls, 118-109. This was Dame’s first game back after missing two straight contests due to a lingering calf injury.

Lillard did not have his best game on Monday, but his mere presence had an undeniable impact on the outcome of the contest.

Damian Lillard Speaks Out on Injury Absence for Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks

Nov 13, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan (11) drives past Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Lillard finished Monday’s win with 12 points, three rebounds, five assists, and five turnovers. The seven-time All-Star had a miserable time shooting the ball, going 3-of-17 from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Dame looked rusty after missing the previous two games — a decision that the 33-year-old shed some light on on Monday:

“Last season I had a couple calf strains, so just from that experience I didn’t want it to linger,” Lillard said, via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I didn’t want to put myself on sideline longer trying to play through something that I could feel already. So, we took a proactive approach.”

Oct 30, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin greets guard Damian Lillard (0) during a timeout in the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Lillard went on to admit that his recent spell on the sidelines may have had a significant impact on his sub-par shooting night:

“I felt pretty good,” Lillard said. “If I didn’t feel good enough to play I wouldn’t have played. But I think anytime you miss time, especially when you’re already kind of behind (physically) to begin with, it’s going to have some sort of effect. But given the circumstances I felt pretty good.”

Oct 29, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee guard Damian L (0) drives against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

The most important thing here is that Lillard was able to play the entire game without incident. The Bucks emerged with a victory too, so that’s great, of course.

We expect Lillard to fare better on Wednesday when Milwaukee takes on the Toronto Raptors.