Damian Lillard’s impact on the Bucks has never been more obvious. In his second season with Milwaukee, the veteran guard has shown exactly why he was brought in to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. But while his skills are undeniable, staying on the court has been the real challenge lately.

The Bucks, currently 48-34, have had to manage to get a direct ticket to the playoffs without their nine-time All-Star for straight games in the latter part of the regular season. They’ve held their fort for long, but let’s be real—Milwaukee is a different beast when Lillard is leading the charge. Unfortunately, a lingering right calf strain has sidelined him all this while. According to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski, his doctors have performed multiple imaging tests to determine the severity of the issue.

The imaging tests have revealed a blood clot in his right calf led to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, a condition that required immediate attention, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. He’s now on blood thinners to keep the clot under control, but his recovery will involve regular testing and close monitoring. And now as the playoff knocks, there’s a major update the Bucks camp won’t like.

The Bucks’ number 0 will miss the start of the playoffs. ESPN’s Shams Charania took to IG to break the news, “Damian Lillard will be out when 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. 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.” The message is clear. It will be another tough battle for the Bucks, but given their record, this shouldn’t bother them much but an addition of Lillard level is always a threat to the opposition.

The 9x All-Star’s diagnosis is a tough blow for the Bucks, and it’s not the first time the NBA has dealt with this condition this season. Victor Wembanyama faced a similar challenge earlier this season after returning from the All-Star Game. The Spurs’ big man received a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis in his leg, prompting his medical team to initiate immediate treatment and sideline him for the season. Like Lillard, his team put him on blood thinners to prevent complications.

The real problem? Playing basketball while on that medication is a huge risk. Contact sports and blood thinners don’t mix since even a minor collision could lead to excessive bleeding. That’s why athletes dealing with DVT are usually sidelined indefinitely.

Before this health setback, Lillard was putting up strong numbers: 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 44.8% overall and 37.6% from three. But right now, basketball isn’t the focus. His health takes priority, and stepping away is the only option.

Speaking with NBA insider Chris Haynes, Lillard acknowledged how frustrating the situation is, saying, “It’s unfortunate that something outside of my control would come up.” He made it clear that, as much as he loves the game, there are bigger things at stake. “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.”

While Dame’s focus remains on his recovery, the Bucks have been dealing with their own challenges on the court.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals details of the meeting with Doc Rivers and Damian Lillard

After the Bucks’ March 18 loss to the Warriors, reports emerged that Doc Rivers called a meeting with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to address the team’s struggles. Naturally, fans ran with it, wondering if this was the moment that would turn Milwaukee’s season around.

Giannis, though, wasn’t buying into the hype. Speaking with The Athletic, he made it clear that this wasn’t some dramatic intervention. “It’s a conversation, it’s not unique, it’s a conversation with your coach,” he said, pointing out that these talks happen all the time—on flights, bus rides, before and after games. The media might have made it sound like a big deal, but to him, it was just business as usual.

He doubled down on that idea, shutting down any speculation that it was some major reset. “It’s not something more than a conversation, you know? It’s not more. I don’t know if people want to make it more. It’s not more.”

Regardless of the outside noise, the Bucks have responded, winning two of their last three. But Giannis doesn’t see this as some defining moment—just part of the process. “At the end of the day, we are the players,” he said. “We take responsibility, and we have to go out there and execute.”

With a tough matchup against the Pacers, Milwaukee’s focus is simple: hold the fort till Lillard arrives.