Damian Lillard is one of the best guards of this generation and a top-75 player in NBA history. However, his career is severely lacking any major team accomplishments outside the run the 2019 Trail Blazers made to the Western Conference Finals before being swept by the Golden State Warriors without Kevin Durant.
Lillard still carries the hope that the Blazers will rebuild around him as the Milwaukee Bucks rebuilt around Giannis, something he communicated to Shannon Sharpe on ‘Club Shay Shay’.
“Giannis was this Giannis before Jrue Holiday got there. He was the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year before this. They went and for Jrue Holiday, they went and got Bobby Portis. These are very good players to me because I play against them, I know what they’re capable of, which is why I understand it. But to the average person, they’re going to be like ‘he’s not a star’, but I know what they bring to the table. I’m not as gifted as Giannis, I’m not 7 feet and all that. But I have things about me that I bring to the table. I know how to dominate a game. If we’re able to get the tools that can complement me, Ant, Nurk, Nas, and Josh Hart, and Joe Ingles. When you’re in the position we’re in, you can go and get some very good players, and that can take us to the next level.”
Lillard has shown the desire to stay in Portland and win a championship, similar to what Giannis did in Milwaukee. However, the Bucks managed to put the perfect team around Giannis to help him get the championship for the city.
Portland have failed to build a formidable championship-level squad for Lillard so far, but the hope is that they can make something special happen with all the cap room they opened up for this summer. Hopefully, Lillard is coming back to a stronger team next season, as the Blazers have to compete in an incredibly talented Western Conference.
