NBA Reporter Rachel Nichols Reacts Strongly to Damian Lillard's Portland Comeback

NBA Reporter Rachel Nichols Reacts Strongly to Damian Lillard’s Portland Comeback originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Basketball fans knew it was “Dame Time” on Thursday. 

The nine-time NBA All-Star point guard, instead of chasing a title with a new team, decided that it was time to come home, where his NBA journey started and where his persona blossomed into a legendary one, as Lillard agreed to a three-year contract worth $42 million with the Portland Trail Blazers; a move that has left NBA fans feeling nostalgic. 

Fox Sports’ Rachel Nichols tried to encapsulate the feeling of learning that one of the greatest players in NBA history is returning to his original team.

Wrote Nichols: “I was such a huge fan of the Dame era in Portland; him going back feels like a big win. I respect pro athletes’ relentless desire to win a title, and *I’m in no way saying that shouldn’t be the goal* BUT pretending that is the only thing is just flat-out ignoring part of the experience. When you catch the special lightning in a bottle that guys like Steph, Kobe, Dame have/had with their team’s fans, it’s not nothing. In fact, once you have it, it may end up being the most important thing of all.”

Lillard most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks, who acquired him in 2023 from the Trail Blazers via a three-team trade that also involved the Phoenix Suns.

In the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Lillard suffered a torn Achilles tendon against the Indiana Pacers, forcing him to miss the rest of the postseason and putting his availability for the 2025-26 season in jeopardy. Lillard was eventually let go by Milwaukee, which used the stretch provision on the remaining $113 million on his contract.

It remains to be seen when Lillard can make it back to action, but what’s certain is that he’s home.

Related: Lakers Fans React Emotionally to Damian Lillard News

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.