NBA All-Star: Taking a Dig at NBA’s Ring Culture, Damian Lillard Breaks Silence on Ending Retirement for Prestigious Competition

Damian Lillard is all set to defend his case as the league’s three-point king. This is after he told NBA Insider Chris Haynes that he would retire if he won the 3-point contest last year. However, it looks like someone had a change of heart. The opportunity to defend the title while having a shot at etching his name in history books is too good to pass up. Notably, if Dame does repeat last year’s feat, he will become the first back-to-back winner in the competition since Jason Kapono in 2007 and 2008 and the first-ever Buck since Ray Allen (2001) to have that crown.

When asked why he wanted to come out of retirement for the three-point contest, Dame replied, “That’s kinda weak. That’s like you win a game on the court, you take your ball and leave without giving the next person a chance to beat you… If somebody gonna take the title, they gotta get the opportunity to take it from me.” So basically, once again, he’s here to ensure the crown does not slip atop his head.

Lillard is all set to enter the competition this year as the defending champion. The only thing that has really changed for the eight-time All-Star is the fact he is now representing Milwaukee, after spending over a decade with Portland.

Dame criticizes the ring culture in the league

Although he does have a 3-point contest title, an NBA title has eluded him throughout his career. In a recent Bleacher Report episode, the Bucks star expressed his disappointment with the ring culture in the league. According to Dame, the modern NBA has become all about how many championships a player has, implying that winning rings is the only thing that matters now in a player’s career. This, in turn, raises doubts about the abilities of the players who still don’t have a title to show for it. “It bothers me. Not just because I don’t have a ring. But now you see people try to diminish or take away from some of the greatest players ever’s careers because they didn’t win.”

However, despite his criticism, he can’t wait to get a ring and move to the other side. In pursuit of his first Larry O’Brien Trophy, he ended his 11-year run with the Portland Trail Blazers to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. The Bucks started their season hot, but in the weeks leading up to the All-Star break, they have been frigid.

Read More: Bucks Legend Slanders Doc Rivers for Not Letting Damian Lillard Be the Sole PG in Milwaukee Amid Misery

Despite their recent dip in performance, they are still in the 3rd spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Do you think Lillard can win his first title with the Bucks this year? Let us know in the comments!

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