NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is a real one when it comes to his home. “I know how important it is for them to see somebody that is not only successful, but somebody that can also speak on the same type of environment and upbringing,” Lillard believed in his quest to empower the Oakland community. And that hasn’t changed one bit. The Oakland native is back on his old stomping ground, but much has changed throughout the years, putting a shard of sorrow in the buoyant mood.

“It’s weird for the city to be struggling the way it is, for everything to be going on,” Lillard told Andscape in an exclusive interview. “I feel like my childhood, a lot of the positivity was that all of the guys who are from the Bay Area we took pride in having our teams there. It gave us something to belong to us. But now with all of them leaving, it’s like a ghost town. So, I hate to see that for the city.”

This might come as a shock to some, but Oakland once boasted major teams that stood proudly on its ground. The Golden State Warriors may have found a new home at the Chase Center, but they once called Oakland home. The $9.4 billion franchise had its heart at the Oracle Arena until 2019 when they were forced to move. The reason? The aging arena lacked modern amenities and practice facilities, which limited commercial opportunities. And it wasn’t just the Warriors, Oakland also saw the departure of the California Golden Seals.

Many of you might be unaware of the NHL team as it is now extinct. It was sold back to the league for $6.585 million at the end of the 1975–76 season. The $6.7 billion NFL team, Oakland Raiders also had to relocate, moving to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in 2020. But the miseries didn’t end there. The team to remain in Oakland until just last year was the Oakland Athletics. Despite fans’ pleas for the $1.2 billion MLB team to stay, the team owners were helpless.

While Damian Lillard couldn’t do anything about the $17.8 billion loss caused by the departure of the big teams from Oakland, the Bucks star still made an impact in his way. He generously donated to his hometown to create better opportunities for the natives.

Damian Lillard gives back hefty donation to his roots

Damian Lillard earned his way to the NBA through a hard road, achieving massive success that now allows him to give back to the community and help especially those following in his footsteps, as he knows the struggles they face.

On Thursday, Dame Time made its way back to its roots at Oakland High School, spreading joy among the young minds. There Lillard announced his partnership with Portland State University, which aims to make the dreams of students come true and provide them with opportunities.

“Here to announce a partnership with Portland State of a scholarship in my name, $25,000 a year,” Lillard let the students know. “I’ve lightened the load of being an out-of-state student. Bringing together both of the places that I probably have the most ties to.”

That’s indeed a huge step. It highlights the kind of player and person Damian Lillard has become. For now, Lillard will be focused on lighting up the Bay Area, hoping to deliver another MVP-esque performance in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. After all, he’s part of Team Shaq, surrounded by the OGs of the league!