The Milwaukee Bucks wrapped up their regular season, boasting an impressive 48-34 record. That secured them the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and a ticket to the NBA Playoffs. Everything was good. Plans well executed. And now Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. will be up against a familiar opponent in the first round of the playoffs. They will come up against an Indiana Pacers team that knocked them out last season. So, Milwaukee will be up for revenge this time around. Their chances will be boosted by the presence of their franchise player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed last season’s series due to an injury. But hold your horses. While the Greek Freak is back in action around this, there’s another storyline brewing for this season’s matchup.

The storyline mentioned is around their other superstar and starting point guard, Damian Lillard. The Milwaukee star has been sidelined due to a blood clot injury since March 18th. This injury is a serious condition that has far more dangerous consequences than basketball. While the Bucks have fared well without the 34-year-old guard in the final stretch of regular-season games, the playoffs are a different story, and it is never easy. So, the Milwaukee faithful have been hopeful that they’ll get to see Lillard’s return for the playoffs. However, they’ve received some bad news on that front. ESPN’s Shams Charania gave everyone the latest update on the Bucks superstar.

“Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard (blood clot) will miss the start of the NBA playoffs, sources tell ESPN. The Bucks play Game 1  of the first round against the Pacers on Saturday. Lillard has been sidelined since March 18, and doctors continue to monitor progress for clearance.” Charania wrote on X. Lillard has been on blood thinners since the injury surfaced and is being tested regularly. However, the latest series of tests have ruled out his return for the first game of Milwaukee’s playoff series against Indiana. This is devastating news for the Bucks fans, who hoped that they’d have both Giannis and Damian available for this playoff series. Now, they’ll once again be without one of their superstars against the Pacers.

However, Charania also noted, “Lillard has, however, made significant progress with the blood clot, and there remains optimism for his clearance at some point in the playoffs, sources said. He is continuing to increase basketball activity this week.” This indicates that the Milwaukee point guard is set to return at some point during the playoffs; we just don’t know when. Lillard has been incredible for his team this season, and he’ll be missed big time in the playoffs. So, naturally, the fans are devastated after hearing this news. “So basically false hope like the Giannis injury last year. He isn’t coming back.” One fan wrote. He expressed his disappointment as he accused the Bucks of giving their followers false hopes, just like they did for Giannis Antetokounmpo last season. Well, that’s not all! Other fans also have a lot to say about this massive update.

Milwaukee fans left fuming after a concerning Damian Lillard update

They have seen a complete turnaround this season, and that is thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard’s partnership. They’ve taken their team from a shaky start to one of the favorites in the playoffs. So, it’s only natural to assume that the fans will be disappointed to hear that one of their superstars isn’t going to play in the postseason. Damian Lillard has been the team’s go-to man, apart from Giannis, and the fans want him to be on the court. If not that, they at least want their franchise to be honest with them. “Just be clear with us… it sounds like he’s not comin’ back.” A follower suggested to Milwaukee’s management. He feels like the Bucks are trying to hide something from the fans, and Lillard is not going to show up, at least for the first round. True? Or just raw emotions? Either way, the prayers wish him back.

Another fan shared this thought. “So what you’re saying is there will be no Dame time,” he stated. Lillard is a seasoned veteran and knows how to handle pressure, especially in clutch situations. So, not having him will be a massive blow for the Bucks, who are aiming to go past the first round this time around. Meanwhile, another follower believes that with Lillard’s absence now confirmed, Milwaukee’s situation doesn’t look quite good. “It’s cooked, man…. Bucks were my dark-horse team.” They wrote on X. Sure enough, Damian’s absence is devastating for Milwaukee. He’s averaging 24.9 points, along with 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. So, yeah, his place won’t be easy to fill. Still, the Bucks do have a chance, especially with the depth they have in their roster this season.

On the other hand, a fan acknowledged the seriousness of the injury. “Man, that’s nothing to play with.. get well soon.” He wished the Milwaukee point guard a speedy recovery. Lillard is suffering from deep vein thrombosis, which is a very dangerous medical condition. It can have serious implications for his body. So, it’s great to see the Bucks’ medical staff taking precautions with his injury and not rushing his return. If Lillard were not affected by injury, it would’ve made things a lot easier for Milwaukee, but unfortunately, that isn’t the case. So, Milwaukee will have to once again lean on their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to get them through in the first round. Meanwhile, everyone is closely monitoring Lillard’s injury.