Damian Lillard lands GM job at Weber State after Trail Blazers reunion

Damian Lillard is going back to school.

The nine-time NBA All-Star announced Saturday that he will serve as the general manager for the basketball program at Weber State, his alma mater, while recovering from a torn left Achilles this season.

The 35-year-old Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Trail Blazers, his original NBA team, in July after he was waived by the Bucks following two seasons in Milwaukee.

He suffered an Achilles injury in Game 4 of the opening round of the playoffs against the Pacers and is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season.

Lillard, who played four collegiate seasons at Weber State before getting drafted sixth overall by Portland in 2012, announced his new gig while hosting an alumni game at the Ogden, Utah, school.

“It’s something that, my relationship with coach (Eric) Duft and this program means a lot to me, and seeing the success of the program means a lot to me,” Lillard told the crowd, according to the Ogden Standard-Examiner.

“I feel like I can do a lot to help the program be successful, to help the players even individually continue to grow their careers past college, that’s something that I’m passionate about.”

The Wildcats finished 12-22 last season, including a 5-13 mark in the Big Sky Conference, and they haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2016.

Jayson Tatum of the Celtics and Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers also suffered season-ending Achilles injuries in this year’s playoffs.

Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists last season with the Bucks.