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NBA – Since joining the NBA, Damian Lillard has always been a Blazers player. His quest for loyalty sometimes plays tricks on him, but he doesn’t back down, he wants to stay and win in Portland. He recalls in an interview that a trade would not necessarily be beneficial to him, taking the example of Russell Westbrook.
In the category of loyal active players, who have known only one franchise, the list is short. We can mention the Big 3 of the Warriors, Giannis Antetokounmpo, but also and above all Damian Lillard. Since her draft in 2012, the native of Oakland has only worn the jersey of Portland. A loyalty that he has always declared loud and clear, again at the start of the season (although his management does not give him back at all). In an interview for ESPN, Damian Lillard renews his desire to stay at Blazers pointing out that “the grass is not always greener elsewhere”
“Look at Russell Westbrook. He leaves OKC for Houston. Then James Harden decides to leave, so Russ trades in Washington. Then you’re traded from DC to the Lakers. You are now on your fourth team in four years and by your second season everyone is talking about how they should have traded you. Then you play off the bench. This guy is a Hall of Famer, an MVP, but also an example of the phrase, the grass isn’t always green elsewhere. »
In a few sentences, Damian Lillard explains his vision of the trade and we can understand that he does not want to end up like Russell Westbrook. Although if he were to leave he would be the new franchise player of a team with good lieutenants around or at worst the “lieutenant” of a megastar like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid.
Damian Lillard for now prefers to stay loyal to Portland. It’s true that if one day he manages to win a ring with the Blazers, the story would be beautiful like Dirk Nowitzki in 2011. But for that, management would still have to allow him to play for the title with at least one lieutenant in its ratings.
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