via Imago
Damian Lillard conducts a postgame interview with ESPN after recording his first career triple-double to help the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Houston Rockets, 125-112, in an NBA game at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. Sean Meagher/Staff
via Imago
Damian Lillard conducts a postgame interview with ESPN after recording his first career triple-double to help the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Houston Rockets, 125-112, in an NBA game at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. Sean Meagher/Staff
The 2021-2022 season was not a great one for Damian Lillard. After starting out the year slow and struggling to adapt to the new rules, he got injured in January. And he underwent surgery which caused him to miss the rest of the year. Dame also didn’t make the playoffs after a long time.
His partner in crime, C. J. McCollum got traded to New Orleans Pelicans, bringing an end to the Dame-CJ era in Portland. The Trailblazers drafted the duo and developed them into premier guards in this league. Dame was disappointed CJ was traded and there has been a lot of speculation about Dame’s future as well.
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Lillard says he would want to stay here but said he will not fight a trade. He said, ?If they came to me and they wanted to trade me?I’m not going to fight them on wanting to trade me. I don’t want to be anywhere I’m not wanted. But I don’t think that’s the case.?
NBA Twitter goes crazy after Damian Lillard addresses his future
After Dame addressed his future, NBA fans went nuts. They mocked Dame for running away from the grind while they destroyed the Trailblazers for not building a proper team around him. Here are the best reactions:
Meandering away from the grind? https://t.co/9ljpzqZgBj
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) April 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/BiiiiigDabGuy/status/1515046124670767107?s=20&t=-YSDg6VaD5Fvzv8HX78Gjw
He didn’t run from the grind though
— Alex (@0toHerr0) April 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/_Bobert66/status/1515050855296344074?s=20&t=-YSDg6VaD5Fvzv8HX78Gjw
best i can do is nesmith and a first
— jacob (@tatumplswin) April 15, 2022
I don’t think they want u but I think the Lakers would welcome u
— Noah Nguyen 🖤 (@noahnguyyen) April 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/Gurshan_S1ngh/status/1515045911193300998?s=20&t=-YSDg6VaD5Fvzv8HX78Gjw
https://twitter.com/WadeBLVDszn/status/1515045934635397121?s=20&t=-YSDg6VaD5Fvzv8HX78Gjw
It’s time pic.twitter.com/uhrtti6ezv
— Nard 🇳🇬 (@bernard_dat) April 15, 2022
Nah, I genuinely feel he believes that. I mean why would he fight a trade if he’s not wanted besides he didn’t bring it up out of nowhere it was asked off him by a reporter.
— 🕳️ (@Username76ers) April 15, 2022
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Lillard’s run in Portland through the years
Portland drafted Dame?sixth overall in the 2012 draft. It became clear that Dame had all the makings of a franchise cornerstone. He was an all-star by his second year and he was one of the top point guards in the league. He earned his first All-NBA selection in 2014 and would go on improving each year.
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By 2017, Dame was one of the best players in the league. He had formed a deadly partnership with CJ and the duo led the team to a Western Conference Finals run in 2019. Dame had a historic bubble as he led the Trailblazers to the playoffs.
In 2021, Dame had 3 60-point outings, becoming only the second player to do so. And now the Trailblazers have a decision to make either go full rebuilding mode and trade Lillard or keep him and build a championship team around him.
