The future Hall of Famer returned to the locker room he called home for 11 years before going to the Milwaukee Bucks.
"I feel so happy on the inside."
"The city of Portland, and the Trail Blazers as an organization, are important to me," Lillard said in his return press conference on Tuesday.
Lillard talked about how he revealed the news to his family and their reactions to their dad finally being home for good.
The Blazers legend spent the past two seasons with the Bucks, with his recent stint coming to an unfortunate end after Lillard tore his Achilles during the 2025 NBA Playoffs series against the Indiana Pacers - which he will be rehabbing for a year in Portland.
Lillard signed a three-year, $41.6 million deal with Portland this offseason after being released by the Bucks.
He was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by Portland. In his 11 years with the Blazers, he won the 2012-2013 Rookie of the Year and was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Over the course of his 13-year career, Dame has averaged 25.1 points and 6.7 assists per game - putting him on an All-Star team in every year but three (2012, 2016, 2021) and making the All-NBA team seven times.
Lillard owns a bunch of Blazers franchise records, including points (19,376), most three-point shots made (2,387), free-throw percentage (89.5%), and free throws (4,427).