Damian Lillard — for the 2025 playoffs as he is out with deep vein thrombosis in his calf. While Lillard has missed the last eight games and did not travel with the team on its current road trip, coach Doc Rivers is increasingly optimistic that Lillard will be back this season,

Before this trip, Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters that Damian Lillard might travel with the team. Lillard is not on the trip, but the Bucks have "much more hope today than we did three days ago" regarding Lillard's return, per Rivers. Rivers' quote: https://t.co/0Z1oZVUuSP pic.twitter.com/606ht2RryO

Joel Embiid knows a thing or two about left knee surgeries. Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers even revealed Thursday that Embiid informed him during their teams’ Feb. 9 game that he probably would have to undergo another.

Amid Rivers' exit, the Bucks are still looking to clinch a top-six seed and avoid the play-in tournament. Milwaukee is currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference at 41-34, half a game behind the Detroit Pistons and five games ahead of the No. 7-seeded Orlando Magic.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was not feeling well in the first half in Philadelphia, Darvin Ham coaches team rest of way.

Doc Rivers, Kevin Porter Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez speak on Bucks' 121-115 overtime win over Heat on.

There's "much more hope" that Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard can return this season from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, which has kept him out since March 18. Head coach Doc Rivers delivered that news to reporters Thursday before his team's road win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

PHILADELPHIA -- Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers knows a thing about Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. He coached both of them for three seasons from 2020-2023 and saw Embiid win MVP and Maxey make a meteoric rise.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said the reports on Damian Lillard's recovery have been positive and that the team has "much more hope" than it did before that he can return sometime this season.

The Golden State Warriors have been a machine when both Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry have been in the lineup. The Warriors currently sit in sixth place in the Western Conference, a half-game above the dreaded play-in line.