Damian Lillard has been on several iterations of the Portland Trailblazers ever since being drafted 6th overall out of Weber State in 2012. The two most successful iterations of the Blazers in the past 10+ years have been one with Lamarcus Aldridge and Dame leading the way and the other with CJ McCollum as Dame’s ‘Robin’.
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The furthest Lillard has gone in the Playoffs was in 2019 when they faced off against a Kevin Durant-less Golden State Warriors team in the Western Conference Finals and got swept. With Aldridge, he only ever got to the WCSF.
Through it all, Dame has stuck to his gut and stayed in Portland due to his unwavering sense of loyalty to the franchise that drafted him. Despite fans and media alike clamoring over just how ‘hopeless’ the Blazers situation is in terms of winning a championship, he’s continued to stay put.
JJ Redick on Damian Lillard being a winner
Damian Lillard has already established himself as a top 75 player in the NBA despite only having played for just over a decade. While he does not have a championship or an MVP to his name, what he’s accomplished in the league shouldn’t be taken lightly.
JJ Redick, who has amassed a $50 million net worth from his playing career and his podcasting, while talking to Taylor Rooks, said the same, saying, “You can’t tell me Damian Lillard is not a f**king winner.” For Redick, being a winner doesn’t simply mean having MVPs and titles to your name.
What Dame has cultivated in terms of a culture in Portland over the last 10+ years is beyond inspiring. He’s beloved by almost every fanbase that looks solely at a player’s character and poise as he’s also perhaps the best leader in the NBA today.
Of course, when it comes to individual greatness, Lillard checks that box off with little to no problem. His historic shooting is the most unique asset in the history of the NBA as no one has ever taken the sots he’s taken with that level of comfortability.
The ‘Damian Lillard argument’ is similar to the ‘Charles Barkley’ one
Charles Barkley constantly got berated by Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal during his playing days and on ‘Inside the NBA’ for not winning a championship. Chuck is undoubtedly one of the greatest frontcourt players of his generation and yet, he doesn’t get the respect he deserves.
This is due to the simple fact that he hasn’t a won a championship, similar to Damian Lillard. However, when it comes to the NBA, Barkley has said on many occasions that there are a variety of things that make someone ‘a winner’.
