With just eleven games remaining in the regular season, the Bucks find themselves in a world of trouble. That’s because their superstar guard, Damian Lillard has been sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. He had missed three straight games prior to the devastating news. And Pacers legend Reggie Miller believes this massive setback could halt all the momentum the Milwaukee team has gained so far.

During tonight’s Warriors vs Heat broadcast, Miller highlighted Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co.’s misery following Lillard’s diagnosis, “The Bucks currently in that fifth spot. Chasing Indiana for that fourth spot. You want home court advantage in the first round. And a surging Detroit Pistons who I think now without the services of Damian Lillard probably are gonna catch Milwaukee… Detroit playing unbelievable basketball right now.”

Well, the Bucks suffered a heartbreaking loss last night against the Suns and are stuck at 40 wins. Meanwhile, the Pistons blew out the Spurs tonight and are now one win ahead of the Milwaukee team, but also have one more loss. They have been on fire recently, having won four of their last five games and could overtake the Bucks now that Lillard is sidelined. Moreover, the Pacers are two wins ahead of the Bucks and without Lillard, it will be difficult for them to catch Miller’s former team.

Adding further concerns about Dame’s injury, the TNT announcer said on Live TV, “Remember, this happened to Wemby earlier and he was out for the season. So, we don’t know what the prognosis is gonna be for Damian Lillard.”

Yes, Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with the same issue in his right shoulder last month and was forced to end his season early. Lillard faces the same risk even though the timeline of his recovery is not determined yet. Sure enough, this uncertainty has put Dame into deep thought about his future, both professional and personal.

Damian Lillard prioritizes family and kids amid health concerns as Bucks begin treatment

Well, the Bucks are still hopeful for Lillard’s return as he has not been ruled out for the season yet. As per reports, the point guard has been put on blood thinning medication, which has stabilized his DVT. GM Jon Horst says he will undergo a “weekly process of strict criteria to ensure that it is safe for him to return to play.”

Horst added, “Damian’s health is our No. 1 priority… Doctors have indicated that his situation is very unlikely to occur again. We are thankful that this was identified and medicated quickly, which helps with the recovery.”

Meanwhile, Lillard got a bit emotional as he talked to veteran insider Chris Haynes about his diagnosis, “It’s unfortunate that something outside of my control would come up. Along with the Bucks’ medical staff, our priorities are to protect my health and safety. As much as I love basketball, I need to be there for my kids and my family. I’m grateful the Bucks acted quickly on this. They’ve been supportive and proactive throughout this process. I look forward to moving past this and continuing my career.”

Sure, Dame wants to continue playing and help his team win. But his priority is to stay healthy and available to support his family. Hopefully, Lillard will make a speedy recovery and return soon because without him, the Bucks’ chances of making a deep playoff run look bleak. Thoughts?