Damian Lillard looks dangerous again, and his Blazers teammate has the receipts originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Damian Lillard is preparing for his highly anticipated return to the Portland Trail Blazers, and teammate Toumani Camara has delivered an encouraging assessment after seeing the veteran guard up close.
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Camara has developed into one of the NBA’s better perimeter defenders, earning All-Defensive recognition during his first three seasons. That experience makes his evaluation of Lillard particularly noteworthy after the two competed during offseason workouts.
“Impressive,” Camara told The Athletic. “Very, very impressive.”
Lillard has spent more than a year recovering after undergoing surgery on his left Achilles in May 2025. While clips of his rehabilitation and shooting sessions have surfaced, Camara received a much different look during full-court, full-speed three-on-three games at Lillard’s Portland home.
What caught Camara’s attention immediately was Lillard’s explosiveness.
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“I think the most impressive thing for me was his first step, his speed, especially coming back from that injury,” Camara said. “He was just very hard to guard all around.”
That is significant praise considering some of Camara’s defensive assignments have included LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jamal Murray and Tyrese Maxey.
After guarding Lillard during the workouts, Camara placed the 36-year-old among the five toughest players he has defended.
“He has so many ways to get around you,” Camara said. “He has mastered his game and mastered his body.”
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Perhaps the biggest surprise wasn’t Lillard’s offense.
Camara noticed an increased defensive intensity from the nine-time All-Star, including his willingness to defend, box out and handle smaller details that don’t always appear on the stat sheet.
Portland coach Micah Nori has been equally impressed by Lillard’s progress.
“He looks phenomenal,” Nori told The Athletic. “Every time I see him shoot the ball, I think it’s going in.”
Lillard is expected to enter training camp without restrictions, setting the stage for one of the NBA’s most intriguing comeback stories.
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Portland still must determine how its crowded backcourt fits together, but Camara has already seen enough.
If Lillard’s offseason form carries into the regular season, the rest of the NBA may quickly discover that one of the league’s most dangerous guards isn’t finished yet.
