No matter where his NBA journey takes him next, for Damian Lillard the city of Portland will always resemble his “home”. He spent 11 seasons as part of the Trail Blazers fueling their basketball dreams. Today, he returned to the city for an honor that was irrelevant to the game but to celebrate his involvement with the community in Rip City.

He arrived at the  Maurice Lucas Foundation’s 14th dinner to be awarded the Bill Walton Community Impact Award, the first of its kind. He didn’t need a second to think about the decision to make the trip. Apart from being the leader in points and three-pointers for the franchise, Lillard was heavily invested in the Portland community. And the honor of following the footsteps of Walton, a franchise and community legend filled him with pride.

In doing so, he also celebrated his mother Gina Johnson’s immeasurable sacrifices to put him in the position to make an impact. He reposted an Instagram story from the event captioned, “Shout out to the mamas”.

He and Johnson share a precious bond. It was through her and his father, Houston, that he learned the virtues of humility. That inspired him, even as a rookie, to be the beacon of upliftment in Oregon. It began with his RESPECT program. Partnering with three local high schools, he urged students to show respect and arrive at school for education.

He would regularly take surprise visits to these schools to speak and interact with the students. No doubt the community of Portland felt sorrow when he left. Dolla also set up the Damian Lillard Foundation to promote athletic and academic development to youths in crisis. Through the foundation, he hosts the 7 on 7 tournaments to inspire hard work.

It doesn’t stop there. Damian Lillard has also been the Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics, traveling to various events and even helping coach athletes at the 2023 All-Star weekend. Simply put, such efforts brought him joy and fulfillment. For the community, he was an anchor, even more than what he was with the Trail Blazers.

“We’re gonna miss him,” said the principal of the McDaniel’s High School in Portland. For his efforts to boost the community and make a lasting impact, it was an honor Lillard deserved. But his objective doesn’t stop with Portland.

Damian Lillard has made his presence in Milwaukee

Because his mother, Gina, would be invested in rigorous work, Lillard would spend time at the Boys and Girls Club. He spent a chunk of his childhood there, making friends and how to make his voice be heard. Likewise, while in Portland, he worked with them diligently. That would often involve surprise visits with him giving out a pair of his signature sneakers to the kids present.

But in September last year, he ended his decade-long stay in Portland, moving to the city of Wisconsin. Traditionally, the first few months are frantic as a new arrival. Educating himself about the team’s system and finding a place within it is the topmost priority for NBA stars. However, Lillard takes his off-court contributions very seriously.

So even in between a packed NBA schedule, he made time for the Boys and Girls Club at Kohl’s at 331 W. Wisconsin in December. The kids present were shell shocked as expected. When present, Lillard had an interactive Q&A, distributed custom basketball cards, offered tickets to the Bucks’ game against the Pacers, and, as per tradition, his Dame Certified 2.0 shoes.

“These kids, they’re not going to get this experience all the time. This is not something they’re going to have all the time, and it only takes a little bit of my time and a little bit of effort for me to be willing to do it. A lot of these kinds will never forget it,” he said of his purpose.

No wonder Damian Lillard is admired. He is a Trail Blazer in all senses and is more than willing to leverage his platform to foster a greater community.