Damian Lillard: 'Next year we're gonna be back better than before'
Source: Twitter @highkin
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Kevin Pelton @kpeltonDamian Lillard, addressing the crowd pregame, said “this does not continue” with the Blazers missing the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season. pic.twitter.com/4STM8w4G27 – 9:39 PM
Sean Highkin @highkinDamian Lillard, addressing the crowd: “A tough season, a lot of adversity this year. A lot of things came up that we didn’t expect. But I want you to know one thing: this will not continue. Next year we’re gonna be back better than before.” pic.twitter.com/uw57RcCAJr – 9:35 PM
Eric Walden @tribjazzDamian Lillard addressing the Portland crowd pregame: “There’s one thing I need you to know — This will not continue next year. We’re gonna come back.” – 9:35 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarahDamian Lillard to the fans at Moda Center. “Next year, this will not continue. We’re gonna come back better.” – 9:35 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBAOne reason for hope for every NBA non-playoff team, including ageless LeBron James, return of Damian Lillard
by @ColinCBSSports
cbssports.com/nba/news/one-r… – 2:45 AM
Damian Lillard @Dame_LillardAll these mfs crazy. Life is bigger than some damn sports – 9:32 PM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko📅 On this day in 2017, the @Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard scored 59 points in a win over the Jazz.
Lillard broke the franchise single-game record for points, and would later become the first player in franchise history to record a 60-point game (he now has three such games). pic.twitter.com/h753vuqSHH – 2:01 PM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavsBetween OKC & POR I’m not sure who’s tanking harder, I dare you (without looking it up) to name 3 players on either team who are presently playing ( No one like Lillard or SGA who have been shut down for the year). – 1:54 PM
More on this storyline
CH: A championship in Portland is still your desire? Damian Lillard: “That’s the only thing I care about, honestly. It seems like after I announced that I was having surgery, people were like, ‘Oh, he’s 31 and having this done.’ Man, 31 is not old. They act like you’re old when we have guys around the league older than me that are still playing at a high level. Also, my game is not based on me playing above the rim. I’m a sniper. I shoot. I got a good step. I can think the game. I can manipulate the game, and I know how to play. My game will age well, and I don’t have a history of injuries. And the one that I just had is not a bad injury to have. I’m going to come back and be fine. Like I said, my best is yet to come. And the only things that I play for at this point is I want to be the MVP of the league and I want to win the championship. And once I do those things, I feel great about the investment that I made to this game over my whole life. If I accomplish those two things, I’m walking away feeling like I literally got the most out of myself as an athlete.” -via Yahoo! Sports / March 25, 2022 The teams that have a star are feverishly doing everything to keep them happy. The rest are plotting to poach them. Around the league, team executives are already bracing (and/or plotting) for the next disenchanted star to ask out, with speculation focused on Zion Williamson in New Orleans, Damian Lillard in Portland and Donovan Mitchell in Utah. -via Sports Illustrated / February 20, 2022 But an accurate assessment, post-deadline, of Lillard’s commitment to the only team he’s played for over his 10 seasons in the league? For those still wondering, or holding out hope that he wants out of Portland? Especially after the organization completely revamped the roster? That we can provide with 100 percent certainty. Because we asked him for an update. “I’m loyal to what I believe,” Lillard tells Complex Sports. “I do love living in Portland. I do love playing for the Trail Blazers. But I’ve built this. I’ve been part of this for 10 years. I’ve been part of the change here and us being a successful franchise. I know what means something to me in my heart. And that’s winning a championship here.” -via complex.com / February 18, 2022