Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, and has been ruled out indefinitely. Lillard, 34, was out for the last three games with what the Bucks initially said was a calf strain, and he also sat out for more than a week in December because of an issue with the same calf.

The Bucks’ posted an official health status update on Lillard on X, with Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst sharing in a statement: “Damian’s health is our No. 1 priority. We will support him as he moves through this weekly process of strict criteria to ensure that it is safe for him to return to play. Doctors have indicated that his situation is very unlikely to occur again. We are thankful that this was identified and medicated quickly, which helps with the recovery.”   

After the news broke, Lillard released a statement to NBA insider Chris Haynes which read: “It’s unfortunate that something outside of my control would come up. 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.”

Lillard, a nine-time All-Star, has averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game over 58 starts this season — his second with the Bucks since a 2023 trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.

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