Following his torn left Achilles tendon in the first round of the playoffs, the Bucks stunned the NBA by waiving and stretching the remaining $113 million on Lillard’s contract over the next five years. This move created the necessary cap space for Milwaukee to sign Myles Turner.

Lillard was a first-round pick in 2012 for the Trail Blazers and won Rookie of the Year before helping the franchise to eight playoff appearances over the next 11 seasons. He spent two years of teaming up with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee before choosing to come home to the West Coast.

Monday marked the return of Portland’s favorite son, as Lillard met with the media to discuss an earlier-than-anticipated homecoming. Last week, the nine-time All-Star announced he was returning to the Rose City two years after requesting a trade that took him 2,000 miles from the only NBA home he’d ever known.