The Portland Trail Blazers and superstar Damian Lillard have agreed to a two-year, maximum contract extension, a source confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday afternoon.
The extension, which is worth a total of $122 million and runs through the 2026-27 season, ups Lillard’s current contract with the Blazers to five years and almost $270 million. That puts him among one of the top earners in NBA history at an estimated $451 million in total salary.
The deal was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Lillard, 31, is coming off the first injured-plagued season of his NBA career, playing in a career-low 29 games. He underwent abdominal surgery Jan. 13 and last played for the Blazers on Dec. 31. He averaged 24 points, four rebounds, and seven assists for the Blazers last year.
Following his surgery and after the Blazers struggled to stay in playoff contention, Lillard was shut down for the rest of the season. Lillard remains Portland’s centerpiece even after a down season and the team is undergoing a roster retooling around the six-time All-Star.
Part of the remake has included the Blazers trading for Jerami Grant, signing Gary Payton II, and giving new deals to Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons.
On numerous occasions, Lillard has expressed his commitment to Portland over the last year, despite rumors swirling about his future with the team. He’s made it clear he wants the team to be aggressive in building a contender around him. By signing an extension, it’s clear he believes the team is headed in the right direction to make the postseason and hopefully contend for a championship.
Lillard has spent the first decade of his NBA career with the Blazers and is now locked in to begin his second in Portland as well.
(developing story)
– Aron Yohannes
