One of the greatest things that fans admire about Damian Lillard is his loyalty to the Portland Trail Blazers. Many have believed over the years that Lillard would one day get fed up with not winning an NBA Championship with the Trail Blazers. But Dame is yet to do that.
In the 2022-23 NBA season, Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers are currently the 12th seed in the Western Conference with a 28-31 record. This has resulted in people wondering if the franchise is tanking for the predicted number one overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama. However, Lillard is certainly against this.
No way https://t.co/Bd21JnGV9w
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) February 24, 2023
Lillard has always believed that he has won plenty with his unwavering loyalty to the Trail Blazers. But why don’t we take a look at what Lillard has achieved during his stint with the Trail Blazers?
His first season was in 2012-13, and the Trail Blazers didn’t advance to the playoffs. Okay, he was a rookie, LaMarcus Aldridge was their best player, and that was fine.
After that, Dame lead the Trail Blazers to eight straight playoff appearances, and they lost five times in the First Round, two times in the Semi-Finals, and once in the Western Conference Finals. Last season, they didn’t even reach the playoffs.
Dame has won only four playoff series in his 10-year-long career in the NBA. Is that enough? No. It’s not enough, and the Trail Blazers will never win a title unless they really land another star to play with Damian Lillard. And who would be a better prospect and star than Victor Wembanyama? Dame, it’s time. But this time, it’s time for tanking.
Bill Simmons Is Certain That The Trail Blazers Have Started To Tank For Victor Wembanyama
Damian Lillard is averaging a stunning 31.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 7.3 APG so far this season. But even after that, the Trail Blazers are currently not even a play-in spot. However, the difference between them and the teams until the sixth seed wasn’t that wide.
As a result, NBA analyst Bill Simmons slammed the Trail Blazers for resting Dame in a crucial game against the Sacramento Kings. Simmons believes the Trail Blazers have officially started to tank for Wembanyama.
Portland was one loss behind the 6-seed heading into tonight and said “F**k it” and officially started tanking. And it’s probably the right move. What a league.
Portland was one loss behind the 6-seed heading into tonight and said “Fuck it” and officially started tanking. And it’s probably the right move. What a league.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 24, 2023
Tanking for a future prospect is never good for the spirit of the game. In fact, Wembanyama himself criticized NBA teams for trying to tank for him ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t stop teams from doing so, and the dominoes have started to fall with the Trail Blazers setting a path to tanking for Wembanyama, with still more than 20 games left in the season.
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