Damian Lillard joins LeBron James in the exclusive circle of players with a no-trade clause

Damian Lillard is officially back home. The nine-time All-Star point guard has signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, including a player option for the 2027-2028 season and a no-trade clause. This surprising reunion comes after the Milwaukee Bucks released the 35-year-old earlier this month.

Lillard confirmed the news on social media with an Instagram video showing the Blazers’ locker room before stopping at his locker at the Moda Center, accompanied by the message: « RipCityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!! »

Damian Lillard joins LeBron James as the only players in the NBA to have a NO TRADE CLAUSE in their contract 🚫 pic.twitter.com/i6TVHxJmoD

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) July 18, 2025

An exclusive status with LeBron James

With this signing, Lillard joins LeBron James as the only NBA players currently under contract with a no-trade clause. This contractual protection allows the player to refuse any trade he doesn’t approve. Lillard earned this right during his first stint in Portland, having spent at least eight years in the NBA and four years with the Oregon franchise.

The veteran left Portland in 2023 in a three-team trade that sent him to Milwaukee. During his two seasons with the Bucks, he averaged 24.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, shooting 37.6% from three-point range. However, Milwaukee faced two consecutive first-round playoff eliminations despite 49-33 and 48-34 records.

2025-2026 season compromised by injury

Lillard’s 2025-2026 season is uncertain after his left Achilles tendon rupture on April 27 during the first quarter of Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers. This injury ended an excellent season where he was averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists with 44.8% shooting.

Lillard plans to dedicate the entire 2025-2026 season to his rehabilitation before returning to the court in 2026-2027. This return to Portland will also allow him to be closer to his children, which had become a priority according to sources close to the matter.

For the Blazers, this signing represents a bet on the future while bringing back a franchise icon. The team, currently rebuilding with young talents like Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe, will benefit from the experience and leadership of a player who carried the organization for 11 seasons. This emotional reunion could bring hope back to Portland fans, even though the path to competitiveness still appears long.