The desire for titles has compelled many stars to join other top players. This has evoked questions about the price of loyalty over the era of super teams, which have dominated the NBA for over a decade. During this phase, very few players stayed with the teams that drafted them. On July 1, one such player, Damian Lillard made his trade request.

His choice caused fans to get engaged in the loyalty debate. Names like Dirk Nowitzki, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Tim Duncan come to mind, but fans had another prominent name. Who did the NBA world label as loyal after Dame’s willingness to depart ‘The Rose City’?

The motivation behind Damian Lillard’s request for a trade

Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes broke the news when he dropped a bombshell, revealing Lillard’s trade request. While the Trail Blazers‘ point guard didn’t reveal any reasons, his earlier comments could have provided a hint to the motivation.

In an interview, the 7x NBA All-star chose his picks for a championship-contention team, which included two Eastern Conference franchises.

A year before, the player signed a two-year extension for $225 million. He continued to perform at a high level, averaging 32.2 points last season. As he will be 33 when the NBA season begins, Lillard knows he doesn’t have much time left on his hands. Hence, he, too, may have opted to go down the super team route.

With a trade imminent, who gets the fans’ vote for the most loyal player in the NBA?

Read more: Amid Hopes of Signing Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler’s Heat Set to Make $29,682,540 More Cap Space by Waiving 17-Year NBA Veteranment

Is Stephen Curry the most loyal NBA player now?

Once the news about Lillard’s potential exit broke out, fans started to talk about the most loyal player at this moment. One player that has emerged as the top candidate is Golden State Warriors Legend Stephen Curry.

NBA Memes, a parody Twitter account with over 516,600 followers, tweeted a photo of Curry. The 35-year-old has stayed with the Warriors ever since 2009 and has won 4 NBA titles with the franchise. Considering his longevity with his side, one fan wrote, “The only loyal superstar left.”

Fans were quick to react to the post, with some carrying positive statements while others took the negative route. A user commented, “Only ‘loyal’ cause he’s never had bad teams and a reason to leave”, while another user tweeted, “There’s a difference between loyalty and just being foolish.”

Other netizens wrote: “After four rings, it’s just cruise control til the end,” and “Easy to be loyal to a winning franchise.”

In the dynamic world of basketball, change is an inevitable factor. While it’s important to appreciate the loyal ones, it is also important to understand that when players opt for a change; they do it keeping their best interests and professional career in mind. Fans now anticipate Damian Lillard’s next move.

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