Latest news with #TrailBlazers
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blazers sign former Spurs guard Blake Wesley to 1-year deal
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland Trail Blazers announced Tuesday that they are adding to their young core by signing former San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley to a one-year contract. Wesley was a star at Notre Dame until he was drafted No. 25 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Spurs, where he has spent the last three seasons. He's played in 156 games and is averaging 4.3 points, 2.4 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game. As a high schooler, he was a 2021 McDonald's All-America Game Nominee, Indiana All-Star Selection, and 2020 Associated Press All-State High Honorable Mention. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard on Yang Hansen: 'He got some swag to him'
'He got some swag to him.'Had to get @Dame_Lillard's thought on his new rookie teammate @Hans15Y after his official re-introductory press conference Damian Lillard was welcomed back to the Portland Trail Blazers over the weekend, and the nine-time NBA All-Star is excited to get to work with the organization and his new teammates. Lillard was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks on July 6, clearing the way for him to sign a three-year, $42 million contract with the Trail Blazers on Saturday. He spent the past two seasons with the Bucks after playing the first 11 years of his career in Portland. The Trail Blazers' all-time leading scorer is expected to miss the entire upcoming season to rehabilitate a torn left Achilles tendon sustained on April 27. He said at a press conference on Monday that he wants to take as much time as needed to ensure a full recovery on the court. Lillard watched the Trail Blazers from afar and believes they are poised to take another step forward, with a core featuring Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, among others. He is also intrigued with the addition of 7-footer Yang Hansen. "Watching him during summer league, I was like, 'This is a real player,'" Lillard told team reporter Casey Holdahl. "Especially with the way the league is now, with a lot of these bigs that teams use as a hub to play make and facilitate the offense at times. He got some swag to him, too. He got some stuff to him. I think that is good for a rookie, especially somebody coming over that is not from the United States." Yang logged four appearances in the NBA Summer League, averaging 10.8 points, five rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 blocks on 45.7% shooting from the field, including 33.3% from 3-point range. He scored in double figures three times, including a 15-point effort on July 15. The 16th pick established himself as one of the top international prospects with Qingdao in the CBA, the top professional league in China. He was an All-Star and All-CBA domestic first-team selection in each season, and was named the 2024 CBA Defensive Player of the Year. Yang is highly touted for his overall skill set and ability as a player who can work down low, space the floor and protect the paint. The organization has had him on its radar for the past two years and believes he can be a player who contributes at a high level on both sides of the court. Though Lillard won't play next year, his addition has created buzz around the team after the group went 23-18 to finish last season. Yang even honored Lillard by recreating his patented "Dame Time" celebration during a postgame interview last week. "He got some personality on him," Lillard said of Yang. "You can tell the way he plays and the way he goes about it, he has some real confidence."
Reuters
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Trail Blazers sign former first-round G Blake Wesley
July 22 - The Portland Trail Blazers signed guard Blake Wesley on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Wesley, 22, averaged 3.7 points and 2.0 assists in 58 games off the San Antonio Spurs' bench last season. He has averaged 4.3 points and 2.4 assists in 156 career games (four starts) since the Spurs drafted him in the first round (25th overall) in 2022. Wesley shot 36.1 percent from 3-point range in 26 games after the All-Star break last season. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Damian Lillard says he's happy to be 'back home' with Trail Blazers, gives update on Achilles recovery
Damian Lillard couldn't be happier to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard offered up enthusiastic remarks about coming back to the team, saying he was glad "to be back home." Lillard made those comments during an introductory presser Monday. Lillard was reintroduced as a member of the Trail Blazers after signing a three-year, $42 million deal with the team after he was surprisingly waived by the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason. Lillard, who was drafted by the Trail Blazers with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, seemed elated to be returning to the franchise, per the Associated Press. "Just knowing that I'm going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I've driven on pretty much my entire adulthood, my whole family being here, my mom, my brother, my sisters, all my friends around the city of Portland," he said. "All of those things count. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon." While Lillard, 35, is back with the team, his second debut with the franchise will have to wait. Lillard tore his Achilles in the playoffs, and is unlikely to play the entire 2025-26 NBA season. Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups joked that Lillard will be "the highest-paid assistant coach in league history" next season. Lillard didn't provide an exact timeline for his return, but said he would take his time to make sure he's fully healed when he gets back on the court. When healthy, Lillard produced like one of the top scorers in the NBA. Last season, he averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists over 58 games. His season was initially cut short after doctors discovered a blood clot in his right calf. Despite plenty of uncertainty, Lillard recovered in time to play in the postseason. His return lasted just three games before he tore his left Achilles. Due to Lillard's age and injury, there's plenty of uncertainty about his return to Portland. While his NBA future remains cloudy, that won't stop the fans from giving Lillard a deafening cheer the first time to takes the court in his return.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Damian Lillard reveals true feelings on his Achilles tear
Image via Getty Damian Lillard finally opened up about his feelings. The player has been out for quite some time owing to an Achilles tear. In a recent press conference, Lillard talked about how the player overcame the mental battle of his injury. The player felt overwhelmed with the responses and prayers for his recovery. Lillard believed that others had more pity for the injury than he did. Damian Lillard explains the mental battle related to these injuries Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon during a first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. The injury will create a hindrance to Lillard's appearance in the 2025-2026 season. Reflecting on the injury, Damian opened up about his feelings. In a recent press conference, the player explained how he dealt with the injury. Lillard stated, 'Everybody else had more pity for me than I did. Talking to Aaron Rodgers, and KD, and Rudy Gay, all these guys who experienced it. I never had that moment of pity with none of my injuries.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) The NBA star believed that such injuries impose a mental battle. These battles need to be fought on their own. Lillard believed that he had never lost any such battles. 'It's a mental battle. I don't lose those.' Lillard seemed to have taken these injuries positively. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The player is currently recovering and is expected to make an appearance in the 2026-2027 season. Damian Lillard highlights his love for Rip City Damian Lillard talks about his love for Portugal and the Trail Blazers as an organization. The player is returning to the team after spending two years with the Milwaukee Bucks. Lillard spent a period of more than 10 years with the Trail Blazers before moving to the Bucks. But now he is back to where he belongs. Cherishing the moment, Lillard stated, 'The city of Portland and the Trail Blazers as an organization are just important to me. It's never been something that I have to try and go out and do.' He further continued, 'It's just how I feel. And I go on what my true feelings are. It was always genuine for first 11 years of my career. It was also organic. Never had to go out of my way to do something or make something and appear to be in a certain way. This will be the same.' FAQs How old is Damian Lillard? Damian Lillard is 35 years old. He was born on July 15, 1990 Where was Damian Lillard born? Damian Lillard was born in Oakland, California Does Damian Lillard have a wife? Damian Lillard separated from his wife, Kay'La Hanson, in 2024. The duo has three children Also Read: Boxing legend Mike Tyson denies knowing Dallas Maverick star Klay Thompson Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
