When it’s all said and done, Damian Lillard would like to come back and retire with the Trail Blazers. On Wednesday, he returned to Portland for the first time since the trade.
“I really didn’t know where to go,” Lillard said during a pregame press conference. “I’d never been in the visitors locker room until today.”
His time in Portland was illustrious. It included many accolades, many game-winners, and many trips to the postseason but most importantly he still lives in Portland. Lillard is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Portland Trail Blazers with 19,376 points.
“Because of how I feel about Portland,” Lillard said. “How I feel about the organization here and my time that I spent here, in my mind I’ve always felt like that’s how my career would end.“
No closure was needed by Lillard. He believes that he still has a great relationship with the organization and the fans. Based on how the game was replicated. The Portland fans gave Dame a standing ovation and the organization played a tribute for Lillard.
“Right now, I’m just in a space of like, this is where I am now. I’m in Milwaukee. I wanted the opportunity to contend, and our team has an opportunity to contend for this year and years to come, and I’m just living in that. But I definitely, when I was traded, I see a day where I’ll be in a Trail Blazer uniform again before I’m done.”
The breakup between Lillard and the Blazers didn’t have any disrespect involved. It was an emotional time. At the time of the trade, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups stated that the two sides will repair any broken relationship. When that happens, that’s when Lillard could return to the Blazers. Knowing that he wants to return to Portland after potentially winning a championship should soothe some souls.
Since the trade for Lillard, the Bucks have struggled on the defensive side. That led to the Bucks firing Adrian Griffin and replacing him with Doc Rivers. Some have alluded those struggles to Lillard who is not as strong defensively as his predecessor as the Point Guard in Milwaukee.
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