The Milwaukee Bucks have announced that Damian Lillard has shown significant improvement in his recovery from deep vein thrombosis affecting his right calf. However, the timeline for when the seven-time NBA All-Star will return to the court is still unclear.

As the Bucks prepare for the postseason, where they are seeded fifth in the Eastern Conference, their first playoff match is against the fourth-seeded Indiana on Saturday.

General Manager Jon Horst stated on Tuesday:

“Damian’s most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved which will enable him to move ahead safely with increased basketball activity. Damian’s health remains our No. 1 priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damian’s progress.”

The update confirmed that Lillard will be ramping up his basketball activities. Lillard’s last game was on March 18, after which it was revealed he was suffering from deep vein thrombosis, which involves the formation of a clot blocking blood flow.

At 34 years old, Lillard concluded the regular season ranked 10th in both scoring (24.9 points) and assists (7.1) and was selected for his ninth All-Star Game this year. Meanwhile, the Bucks managed to secure a 10-4 record in Lillard’s absence over the last 14 regular-season games, entering the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak.

In previous postseasons, the Bucks have faced injury challenges with key players like Khris Middleton, who missed a playoff series against Boston in 2022, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had to sit out due to a calf strain last year.