Damian Lillard has been advised by many people to leave the Portland Trail Blazers, but the player isn’t interested in any of that.
During a recent conversation with ESPN, the 2023 3-Point Contest winner used Russell Westbrook to explain why jumping around teams isn’t always the best option.
“You look at Russell Westbrook. You leave OKC for Houston, then James [Harden] decided he’s leaving, now Russ is traded to D.C., then you get traded from D.C. to the Lakers, now you’re on your fourth team in four years, and in your second year on the team, everybody is talking about how they should trade you. Now you’re coming off the bench. This dude is a Hall of Famer, an MVP. It’s an example that the grass isn’t always greener.”
Lillard explained that other players did this, and it worked, even mentioning Kevin Garnett as the perfect example. However, Dame admits that this isn’t the rule in the NBA.
“I look at the NBA,” Lillard said. “I just look at how many guys that had a great thing going, and then the outside noise creeps in and, even if it’s just a little bit, has some influence on the decision that they make, and then nobody lives with those consequences but them. And then it ends up not working out. You look at somebody like Kevin Garnett. He did it,” — leaving Minnesota for Boston, where he won a championship in 2008 — “and it worked out. But he’s an outlier.”
This is a big situation for Lillard, who has been pressured to leave his first and only NBA team, but he’s made it clear he wants to stay in Portland for as long as he can and see if they can compete for a championship there.
Even though not many people believe in them, Lillard is confident they can get the job done, but that sounds highly unlikely right now. Dame knows that a lot of people will have nothing to say if he wins, and he’s sent a message to them.
Damian Lillard Wants To Win A Championship Like Giannis Antetokounmpo Did
The talented point guard has made it clear he wants to win with his team and emulate what Giannis Antetokounmpo did two years ago, taking the Milwaukee Bucks to the promised land and having stellar performances in the 2021 NBA Finals.
If somebody can have big performances in big moments, that’s Damian Lillard, but the Portland Trail Blazers’ front office must surround him with the right cast so he can challenge the rest of the league, which looks more difficult after the entertaining 2023 trade deadline.
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