Damian Lillard has become the face of NBA loyalty after 11 straight seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
During his more than a decade in the Pacific Northwest, he has averaged 25.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds, leading Portland to nine playoff appearances and one Finals appearance of the Conference.
However, Lillard has yet to guide the Blazers to the Finals, and in an era defined by rings, his lack of gems has often affected how he is viewed in NBA history, and many believe he should have left of Portland for some time.
Lillard addressed the matter in a recent interview with ESPN, using Russell Westbrook’s NBA journeys as an example.
“You look at Russell Westbrook. You leave OKC for Houston, then James [Harden] he decided to leave. Now Russ gets traded to DC, then you get traded from DC to the Lakers, now you’re on your fourth team in four years, and in your second year on the team, everyone’s talking about how they should trade you. Now you leave the bench. This guy is a Hall of Famer, an MVP.
“It’s an example that the grass isn’t always greener.”
Portland has made Lillard worth staying in the PNW.
After the 2022-23 season, he has four years and $216.2 million left on his contract. Lillard will make about $63.2 million in the final year of his 36-year-old contract.
“Then look at Phoenix,” Lillard continued. “They lose a championship, come back last year and have another great season. They don’t make the playoffs. Now they’re struggling. They’re in the same boat as us. Boston lost last year. Then they go out on fire. What if come up short? What if someone knocks them in the first or second round after this great season? We’re struggling right now, but what if we take the plunge at the right time?”
Lillard has produced again this year for Portland, averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists. He won the NBA’s 3-point contest during All-Star weekend, had a 71-point performance on Feb. 26, and has a young Trail Blazers team in the middle of the game conversation .
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