NFL
By: LaGrace Parker
The Milwaukee Bucks dismissed nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard on July 1st, just a few months after he suffered a horrible Achilles injury during the playoffs; the decision shocked the NBA. The team used the league’s stretch option to get rid of the last $113 million on Lillard’s contract, saying that it would give them more flexibility with their salary cap. However, his release has brought back concerns about player health, shorter schedules, and the demands of a longer NBA season.
After a rough first season in Milwaukee that saw him lose in the first round of the playoffs and get hurt in Game 4, Lillard was let go. When the Bucks changed their strategy and signed center Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal, Lillard’s contract was the one that cost them money.
Lillard is said to have praised the action. He is now a free agent and is spending time with his family in Portland, where he is working on healing his Achilles. However, a Reuters story says that not everyone was pleased with the decision. Franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo, for example, was “down” about how the front office handled the situation.
Even the best players in the league can get hurt, and the NBA has grown increasingly transactional now, as shown by Lillard’s decision, even though he is expected to be out for the entire 2025–26 season while he heals.
A number of notable players, including Lillard, had problems with their Achilles last season. Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Paul George are now on the list, which is getting longer and longer. Commissioner Adam Silver has ordered a full investigation as the league is worried about the rise in lower-body injuries.
Some people who work for the league don’t agree with Silver’s claim that most of the injuries happened before the All-Star break. Sam Presti, the general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, said that the league’s answer was “almost insulting,” suggesting that the longer season, shorter travel, and more games are putting too much stress on players’ bodies.
Medical research backs him up: A study by the National Library of Medicine found that players were much more likely to get hurt during the shortened 2020 season than during regular seasons.
These worries aren’t just on the minds of people in the front office. Neither coaches nor players don’t like the way things are right now. Steve Kerr, the coach of the Golden State Warriors, has criticized the NBA’s scheduling strategy, saying that it “doesn’t prioritize player health” and often skips recovery time in favor of prime-time viewership and income.
Joel Embiid’s problems with the 76ers last season made the conflict between organizations and players over how to treat injuries even clearer. Some players think they are being forced to play through injuries so they can meet the new 65-game eligibility requirement for awards. This could be bad for their long-term health.
The NBA and the NBPA have looked into new ways to keep an eye on players’ health, like wearables that can tell when a player is tired or stressed. But many people think these efforts are more reactive than proactive.
These problems are made clear by what happened to Damian Lillard. He is 34 years old, will probably make it into the Hall of Fame, and was thought to be a great addition to Milwaukee’s chances of winning the championship just a year ago. He is now a free agent recovering from one of the worst injuries in sports. His release and the fact that he tore his Achilles tendon are both sad reminders that even the best athletes have to deal with the realities of the NBA today.
The league has had to find a balance between entertainment and endurance for a long time. But the need for change grows as injuries get more frequent and people get more frustrated. Better load management, smarter scheduling, and fewer back-to-backs are not just nice to have; they may be necessary to keep the league’s best players around for as long as possible.
Damian Lillard’s release may not just be a footnote in the NBA’s cap policy; it could also be a sign that the league should be putting more emphasis on health than winning if it wants to protect its players and its product.
Cold world in the NBA. Per @ShamsCharania, the Bucks will waive guard Damian Lillard. His remaining 113 million dollar salary will be stretched. ??? #NBAFreeAgency #NBA #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/QrSg6n3gUi
— NBSMediaLIVE (@NBSMediaLIVE) July 1, 2025
