Damian Lillard is one of the elite players in the NBA today. The Trail Blazers All-Star has become known for his ability to make shots whenever his team needs it the most. For many fans, Dame is the clutches player in the league. To add to this, he is a fantastic three-point shooter, a great scorer, and was a contender to win the MVP this season before his injury. It seems as though the world has recognized the greatness of Damian Lillard. But it wasn’t always this way.
Lillard had his detractors along the way. In fact, one of them was his own head coach in high school. Lillard revealed in an interview that his coach once asked Lillard if he really believed that he could become an NBA player. Dame, who has shown confidence in his abilities for almost his entire life, responded with yes. And at that moment, his coach laughed at that idea, showing him that he didn’t have that same confidence in Dame. And for Lillard, that is a moment that he used as motivation, never forgetting how his coach belittled him in that moment.
“Man, you think you can make it to the NBA? And I was like yeah. And he chuckled and laughed in my face. He literally smiled at me in my face. And I was just like – I’ll never forget when he said that.”
For Lillard, that motivation paid dividends. Not only did he make it to the NBA, but he has become a superstar in the league. Lillard has made multiple All-Star teams and is one of the most beloved and respected players in the league. While that motivation may have served him well in the past, Lillard need not worry about the opinion of his former coach anymore, because he proved him wrong in the most spectacular way.
