Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Damian Lillard Reveals What He Said To Deandre Ayton Before He Missed The Clutch Free Throw
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > Damian Lillard Reveals What He Said To Deandre Ayton Before He Missed The Clutch Free Throw

Damian Lillard Reveals What He Said To Deandre Ayton Before He Missed The Clutch Free Throw

Damian Lillard explained what he told Deandre Ayton just before he missed a huge free throw.

Divij Kulkarni
Oct 22, 2022
3 Min Read
Share

Credit: Darren Yamashita/USA Today Sports

After the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t enjoy much success in the 2021-22 season, some NBA fans had forgotten about just how effective Damian Lillard can be. The Portland Trail Blazers guard is one of the league’s best players, and he showed it in the team’s overtime win over the Phoenix Suns. He scored 41 points on good efficiency, and many would agree was the best player on the court throughout the game. 

Lillard also excitingly impacted the game. The Blazers looked like they would go down in overtime, but they rallied to make a 7-0 run in the final minute or so of OT. With Phoenix having what looked like the last possession, Deandre Ayton was fouled with 1.2 seconds on the clock. Needing both free throws to tie the game up and go to double overtime, Ayton bricked the first clutch free throw and then intentionally had to miss the second. And Lillard played a role in that. 


Damian Lillard On What He Said To Deandre Ayton Before His Missed Free Throw

Many players try to play mind games with their opponents during the clutch, and Damian Lillard did the same. With Ayton going to the free-throw line, the camera spotted Lillard going up to Ayton and saying something to him. 

Dame in the ear of Deandre Ayton before he attempted the game-tying free throws. Looks at him in the eyes and says “hell nah” after walking away. Ayton then missed it. https://t.co/pU9Em4uMTC pic.twitter.com/RLfhowRyin

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 22, 2022

Whatever it was, Ayton bricked his free throw, and the Blazers won, which meant Dame was asked about it after everything was over. And his words were shared by Blazers reporter Sean Highkin on Twitter. 

https://twitter.com/highkin/status/1583695147295916032

“I just asked him, ‘have you ever been in this situation before?’ I wanted him to think about it a little bit. And then when he ignored me, I felt like he was thinking about it.”

Being in that situation is never easy for any player, and Ayton is still relatively new to the league. He may no longer be a rookie, but he hasn’t been in this late-game situation often before. And Lillard taking the time to remind him of that at the moment surely played a part in the big man not being able to make the clutch shots. 

Whatever it may be, the Blazers came away with the victory, and the Suns were on the losing side of a clutch battle. They have made it their identity in recent years to win at the death, and while this doesn’t negate that, it will definitely play on Ayton’s mind until he actually makes some crucial free throws the next time of asking. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsl21duqOHw

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Damian LillardPhoenix Suns Archive
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByDivij Kulkarni
Follow:
Divij Kulkarni is an NBA columnist for Fadeaway World. He has covered the NBA and the English Premier League, with 4 years of experience in creating sports content. Finding exciting and intriguing content about all things NBA is both his job and his passion. Divij loves the Dallas Mavericks and can be regularly observed getting emotional during games. Outside of basketball, he enjoys reading fantasy and sci-fi novels, consuming copious amounts of movies and TV, and spending time with his dog, Olivia. Expertise: NBA, Historical Sports ResearchFavorite Team: Dallas MavericksFeatured On HoopsHype, Sports Illustrated, Secret Base, MSNPrevious Work: Tribuna
Previous Article Karl Malone Told A Hilarious Story About How Charles Barkley Would Put Vaseline On His Belly Button Before Playing To The Inside The NBA Crew: “Say It Ain’t So, Chuck!”
Next Article Nick Young Wants The Lakers To Send Russell Westbrook Back To Oklahoma City Thunder
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns News & Analysis

Devin Booker Reveals He Has “Unfinished Business” With Phoenix Suns

October 3, 2025
Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics News & Analysis

New Return Date For Jayson Tatum Could Put Celtics Back In Championship Picture

October 3, 2025
Warriors star Jimmy Butler
Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Stephen Curry Says Jimmy Butler Gives Warriors “Legitimate Shot” At 2026 Title

October 3, 2025
JJ Redick
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

Richard Jefferson Reveals Major Flaw In JJ Redick’s Coaching

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?