Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are considered one of the best backcourts in the NBA. They aren’t the most honored or famous players around the league but whenever they step on the court, they’re ready to ball and so far, they’re the reason why the Portland Trail Blazers are a competitive squad in the league.
They have created something good in Portland but curiously, we could have seen them playing together but in another city. One of the things that tie these two is that they thought they were going to play in Sacramento, with the struggling Kings. Back in 2018, Lillard revealed he thought the Kings were going to draft him in 2012 but that didn’t happen. Instead, they went with Thomas Robinson with the 5th pick of the night, leaving the door open for the Blazers.
Sacramento https://t.co/aRWeBMQ9OB
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) January 3, 2018
Now Lillard has taken his team to the WCF in 2019 and even though they’re not the most attractive place for free agents, he has made them a very competitive squad.
Moreover, McCollum recently revealed he was promised he was going 7th one year after Lillard. Things changed since Ben McLemore fell to the 7th position and it was a no-brainer for the Kings (at that moment). They passed on McCollum and the Blazers didn’t miss their chance. Talking with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes on ‘All the Smoke‘ podcast, CJ explained:
“The Sacramento Kings promised me at seven. They said that they were going to draft me if I was available. And then Ben McLemore fell, and they ended up drafting him. So, I thought I was going to Sacramento.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMp3giEFK4n
Well, the Kings have had plenty of blunders over the years and it’s not a surprise that they haven’t been to the playoffs for the last 13 seasons. The Blazers have improved their level with these two and even though they’re not considered contenders every year, the Blazers are always a playoffs team in the association.
What could have happened in Sacramento if they drafted these two? We’ll never know.
