The Portland Trail Blazers’ playoff run has been up and down, but one question keeps coming back: can Damian Lillard really return in this postseason? Right now, it’s a difficult scenario – but not completely off the table.

According to Bill Oram (OregonLive), Portland has not entirely ruled out a surprising possibility: a potential return of its franchise leader during this postseason.

An internal source described the situation with caution:

As unlikely as it may seem, the franchise hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility that Lillard could make a surprise appearance this postseason. Obviously, the deeper the team goes, the more realistic that scenario becomes

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And added:

I wouldn’t rule anything out, and I wouldn’t set expectations too high either

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Another source close to the team said:

Lillard is getting closer, and his return before the end of the playoffs isn’t impossible. It would likely happen only in the later stages of the series against the Spurs, or even in a deeper round. Right now, the team is simply keeping an open mind about the possibility

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At this stage, however, his rehab process is not yet advanced: Lillard has not resumed contact work or full-court play. A situation that makes a short-term return highly complicated.

A Difficult Scenario, But Not Impossible

The idea of seeing Damian Lillard back on the court in the NBA Playoffs remains more of a possibility than a probability. Even if his impact upon return would likely be limited, his mere presence could shift the balance in an already competitive series.

With a young and improving Portland roster, his potential comeback would represent a mental boost even before a technical one.