Damian Lillard: 'This past season was my best season'
The future Hall-of-Famer also offered up his own personal take on what the best year of his career was, something that’s often debated between the likes of the 2019-20 bubble season, the 2020-21 campaign, and his most recent brilliance from 2022-23. “I feel like this past season was my best season. I had like a 35-game stretch where I averaged like 39. It was like December to March, and I had 50, I had 60, I had 70. I had 40 a bunch of times. And every game I went out there, like, they gone try their hardest to gameplan, but I felt like it didn’t matter what nobody did, I’m gone score 40. And I wasn’t even going out there trying to hog. I was just in a good rhythm, I was in flow, I was healthy.
Source: Marlow Ferguson Jr. @ Blazers Edge
Source: Marlow Ferguson Jr. @ Blazers Edge
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Sean Highkin @highkin
Nothing about the actual facts of the Dame situation from any side (he wants to be traded to Miami, Blazers don’t love Miami’s stuff, no other team has blown them away) has actually changed since July 1. It’s just the same stuff relitigated over and over again out of boredom. – 1:06 PM
Nothing about the actual facts of the Dame situation from any side (he wants to be traded to Miami, Blazers don’t love Miami’s stuff, no other team has blown them away) has actually changed since July 1. It’s just the same stuff relitigated over and over again out of boredom. – 1:06 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
ICYMI – @wcgoldberg stopped by @TheGardenReport & called Porzingis a “problem for the Heat”
We also talked about the latest on Lillard, what Miami looks like with/without him & whether #Celtics are faves.
@Fdsportsbook @drink_AG1 @_OddsR
Full episode: youtube.com/live/HWNhGZ6Vm… pic.twitter.com/1UFMbPzIjT – 12:46 PM
ICYMI – @wcgoldberg stopped by @TheGardenReport & called Porzingis a “problem for the Heat”
We also talked about the latest on Lillard, what Miami looks like with/without him & whether #Celtics are faves.
@Fdsportsbook @drink_AG1 @_OddsRFull episode: youtube.com/live/HWNhGZ6Vm… pic.twitter.com/1UFMbPzIjT – 12:46 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Ira Winderman: Blazers have their buzz, with potential Heat-Lillard marriage in the balance. sun-sentinel.com/2023/09/21/ira… Suddenly the NBA is abuzz with Damian Lillard trade talk . . . or is it? – 12:37 PM
Ira Winderman: Blazers have their buzz, with potential Heat-Lillard marriage in the balance. sun-sentinel.com/2023/09/21/ira… Suddenly the NBA is abuzz with Damian Lillard trade talk . . . or is it? – 12:37 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Thursday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! Jeanie Buss’ comments on @TheAthleticNBA podcast prompted us to wonder if Anthony Davis gets scrutinized too heavily. Plus, Dame defends the Lakers’ Bubble chip. @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-… – 10:31 AM
Thursday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! Jeanie Buss’ comments on @TheAthleticNBA podcast prompted us to wonder if Anthony Davis gets scrutinized too heavily. Plus, Dame defends the Lakers’ Bubble chip. @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNBAPods
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-… – 10:31 AM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Ira Winderman: Blazers have their buzz, with potential Heat-Lillard marriage in the balance. sun-sentinel.com/2023/09/21/ira… Real or manufactured? That is the question for the Heat to now decipher amid a history of such NBA gamesmanship in bids to up the trade ante. – 9:10 AM
Ira Winderman: Blazers have their buzz, with potential Heat-Lillard marriage in the balance. sun-sentinel.com/2023/09/21/ira… Real or manufactured? That is the question for the Heat to now decipher amid a history of such NBA gamesmanship in bids to up the trade ante. – 9:10 AM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Rumor: Bulls looking to jump into Damian Lillard trade sweepstakes
nbcsports.com/nba/news/rumor… – 9:01 AM
Rumor: Bulls looking to jump into Damian Lillard trade sweepstakes
nbcsports.com/nba/news/rumor… – 9:01 AM
Josh Martin @Bulls_Wire
Should the Chicago Bulls consider getting in on the Damian Lillard trade sweepstakes? bullswire.usatoday.com/2023/09/20/chi… – 1:00 AM
Should the Chicago Bulls consider getting in on the Damian Lillard trade sweepstakes? bullswire.usatoday.com/2023/09/20/chi… – 1:00 AM
Damian Lillard @Dame_Lillard
Had to pay tribute to one of my favorite movies with my ‘Paid In Full’ music video.
🎥 youtu.be/xuhEdfWtGbg?si…
@Mr_Camron @TobeNwigwe pic.twitter.com/sJVA9DRNm4 – 9:02 PM
Had to pay tribute to one of my favorite movies with my ‘Paid In Full’ music video.
🎥 youtu.be/xuhEdfWtGbg?si…
@Mr_Camron @TobeNwigwe pic.twitter.com/sJVA9DRNm4 – 9:02 PM
Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
Regarding the #Bulls-Lillard rumors, don’t get your hopes up. If Lillard had 2 years left on his deal, maybe you think about offering LaVine and seeing what happens.
But Lillard has 4 yrs left, same as LaVine, & is owed $38 million more than LaVine, including $63.2 mil in ’26-27 – 8:25 PM
Regarding the #Bulls-Lillard rumors, don’t get your hopes up. If Lillard had 2 years left on his deal, maybe you think about offering LaVine and seeing what happens.
But Lillard has 4 yrs left, same as LaVine, & is owed $38 million more than LaVine, including $63.2 mil in ’26-27 – 8:25 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
On today’s @PHLY_Sixers pod, we discussed the ongoing Lillard saga and a wild-card team I’ve heard is making calls to get in the mix — the Chicago Bulls
🎧link.chtbl.com/PHLYSixers pic.twitter.com/ereazkR6cB – 5:15 PM
On today’s @PHLY_Sixers pod, we discussed the ongoing Lillard saga and a wild-card team I’ve heard is making calls to get in the mix — the Chicago Bulls
🎧link.chtbl.com/PHLYSixers pic.twitter.com/ereazkR6cB – 5:15 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Damian Lillard hails himself as NBA’s best point guard… but with a Stephen Curry twist
cbssports.com/nba/news/damia… – 5:00 PM
Damian Lillard hails himself as NBA’s best point guard… but with a Stephen Curry twist
cbssports.com/nba/news/damia… – 5:00 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Damian Lillard rumors: NBA star would still request trade to Heat if Blazers send him elsewhere
cbssports.com/nba/news/damia… – 4:52 PM
Damian Lillard rumors: NBA star would still request trade to Heat if Blazers send him elsewhere
cbssports.com/nba/news/damia… – 4:52 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
From PM: Portland keeps looking for something better than Heat’s assets for Lillard. And the Bam/Porzingis dynamic: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 4:35 PM
From PM: Portland keeps looking for something better than Heat’s assets for Lillard. And the Bam/Porzingis dynamic: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 4:35 PM
Steve Aschburner @AschNBA
Portland’s Chauncey Billups heads into his third season as coach with probably the biggest open question in the NBA looming over his team. I talked with him about the unsettled Damian Lillard situation and more. nba.com/news/qa-chaunc… – 4:29 PM
Portland’s Chauncey Billups heads into his third season as coach with probably the biggest open question in the NBA looming over his team. I talked with him about the unsettled Damian Lillard situation and more. nba.com/news/qa-chaunc… – 4:29 PM
Josh Martin @Bulls_Wire
Should the Chicago Bulls consider getting in on the Damian Lillard trade sweepstakes? bullswire.usatoday.com/2023/09/20/chi… – 2:25 PM
Should the Chicago Bulls consider getting in on the Damian Lillard trade sweepstakes? bullswire.usatoday.com/2023/09/20/chi… – 2:25 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Will Heat Pass Celtics as Favorites When they Trade for Lillard? w/ @wcgoldberg |by @FDSportsbook @_OddsR @drink_AG1 twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 1:31 PM
Will Heat Pass Celtics as Favorites When they Trade for Lillard? w/ @wcgoldberg |
by @FDSportsbook @_OddsR @drink_AG1 twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 1:31 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Like that thing George Constanza once tried, Trail Blazers continuing to do the opposite of what Damian Lillard wants: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 1:18 PM
Like that thing George Constanza once tried, Trail Blazers continuing to do the opposite of what Damian Lillard wants: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 1:18 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Are possible Antetokounmpo, Embiid trades next summer hurting the Lillard market?
nbcsports.com/nba/news/are-p… – 1:17 PM
Are possible Antetokounmpo, Embiid trades next summer hurting the Lillard market?
nbcsports.com/nba/news/are-p… – 1:17 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Going live soon (1:15 EST) with @wcgoldberg for the 1st time since before Game 7 on @TheGardenReport. It seems like the #Heat are going to training camp without Damian Lillard…so now what?
@FDSportsbook @_OddsR @drink_AG1
Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=HWNhGZ… – 12:59 PM
Going live soon (1:15 EST) with @wcgoldberg for the 1st time since before Game 7 on @TheGardenReport. It seems like the #Heat are going to training camp without Damian Lillard…so now what?
@FDSportsbook @_OddsR @drink_AG1Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=HWNhGZ… – 12:59 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Continuing to discuss Damian Lillard is not an “educated take” it is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole:
thunderousintentions.com/2023/09/20/dam… – 12:46 PM
Continuing to discuss Damian Lillard is not an “educated take” it is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole:
thunderousintentions.com/2023/09/20/dam… – 12:46 PM
More on this storyline
In terms of on-court play, Lillard did offer some commentary into his thoughts on playing in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Citing fatherhood and family as one potential reason why he might not participate, he did offer this: “I would want to do it just to get a healthy one in, because I was hurt like a motherf— , I ended up having surgery right after that. But, just to get a healthy one in, being able to play with all of them. Being able to step outside of my role and be able to just catch-and-shoot, get up and down, have some fun, that’d be cool.” -via Blazers Edge / September 21, 2023
PHLY_Sports’ Kyle Neubeck upped the ante late Wednesday by saying on his outlet’s podcast that the Bulls “might be trying to move LaVine as part of a multi-team deal just to see if they can get into the Lillard sweepstakes.” Multiple league sources indicated throughout the offseason that the Trail Blazers showed little interest in acquiring LaVine directly, mostly because he doesn’t match their rebuilding path and commitment to a young backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons. -via Twitter @KellyIko / September 21, 2023
Any sense that Lillard lobbying publicly for a trade and where he prefers to go could drain the goodwill he’s built up there? Chauncey Billups: Dame has been incredible. To the fans of Portland, to our organization. He hasn’t been negative at all to anybody in our organization. Dame has been a stand-up guy. A professional the whole way through. It’s the business at hand. I don’t think there’s pressure on either side. -via Steve Aschburner @ NBA.com / September 21, 2023