Damian Lillard on staying in Portland his whole NBA career: 'I'm willing to die on that hill'

Lillard considers the uncertainty from both angles, the good and the bad. “Then you look at Phoenix,” he said. “They lose a championship [2021], come back next year, have another great season, then they don’t make it out of the playoffs. Now, they’re struggling. They’re in the same boat as us. Boston lost last year, then they come out on fire, what if they come up short? What if somebody knocks them off in the first round or the second round after this great season? We’re struggling right now, but what if we hit our stride at the right time?” -via ESPN / February 28, 2023

Other GMs offer differing views on Portland and Lillard’s role. “It’s easy to be loyal when they’re giving you that much money,” one said. Another made a similar remark while adding that if Portland aims to become a contender with its current roster, considerable development and perhaps unrealistic patience would be required from Lillard, whose own career is closer to the end than the beginning. “If he can be supportive of that development,” the second GM said, “then he’ll be the only one his age that can do it.” -via ESPN / February 28, 2023

“It’s not about money,” he said. “It’s not about being popular. It’s not about those things. But because I had the right people around me — I had people encouraging me to do the right things — they gave me a chance to be successful. The reason that I’m here is because I want to encourage all you guys.” He preaches his ideals. “It doesn’t matter how many people know you. It doesn’t matter how many points you score on this court or on the field. None of that matters. It’s the small things.” -via ESPN / February 28, 2023