Damian Lillard Confronts Dillon Brooks Over Kick Toward Achilles That Sidelined Him An Entire Year

Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon during Game 4 of the 2025 playoffs between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers.

That injury cost him the entire 2025-26 season.

He spent months in rehabilitation, working to regain the strength and explosiveness that made him a nine-time All-Star.

On Wednesday night, in the third quarter of a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns, Lillard saw that same left Achilles targeted.

With the whistle already blown on a dead play, Suns forward Dillon Brooks attempted a pump fake and then kicked backward toward Lillard's lower leg.

Replays showed Brooks' foot making contact with the back of Lillard's left leg in the Achilles area.

Lillard immediately confronted Brooks, getting in his face as referees and Blazers coaches rushed to separate them.

The moment was captured by cameras and quickly circulated across social media, drawing widespread criticism.

This is not the first time Brooks has been at the center of a controversy involving physical play.

He has a reputation around the league as one of its foremost agitators, with past incidents including scuffles with Draymond Green and ejections for flagrant fouls.

But this particular act struck a nerve because of what Lillard had already been through.

The 36-year-old guard tore his left Achilles in the 2025 playoffs and did not play a single game in the 2025-26 season.

He worked his way back through months of rehab to return to the court for the 2026-27 season.

Lillard has looked like his old self since returning, consistently dropping 20-point games and delivering in clutch moments.

On Wednesday, he finished with 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting, along with three rebounds and five assists.

The Trail Blazers won the game 132-119, sweeping the season series against the Suns.

After the confrontation, Lillard appeared to get the last word on the court.

On the very next possession, he hit a double-clutch and-one layup and stepped over Brooks, who was on the ground.

The moment drew comparisons to Allen Iverson stepping over Tyronn Lue in the 2001 NBA Finals.

Brooks, 30, signed a three-year, $73 million extension with the Suns in the summer.

So far this season, he has made more headlines for altercations than for his play.

Before Wednesday's game, he got into it with Draymond Green during a 116-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday.

Against the Trail Blazers, Brooks finished with 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting, six rebounds, two assists and one steal.

The Suns dropped to 1-5 with the loss.

Whether Brooks' kick was intentional is something only he can answer.

But many observers argue that his history of questionable plays has cost him the benefit of the doubt.

The NBA has rules against unnecessary contact after a whistle, and flagrant fouls can be assessed for actions that endanger a player's safety.

Achilles injuries are among the most serious in professional sports.

According to medical literature, a torn Achilles tendon typically requires surgical repair followed by months of immobilization, then gradual rehabilitation.

Full recovery often takes 9 to 12 months, and some athletes never regain their previous level of performance.

Lillard's return to form after missing an entire season is considered remarkable by many in the basketball world.

The incident has reignited debate about Brooks' style of play and whether the league should take a closer look at his pattern of conduct.