Damian Lillard created Portland Trail Blazers history this past week. Against the 19th December clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dame Dolla put up a 28-point performance. While doing the same, the 11-year veteran surpassed Clyde Drexler’s 18,040-point mark to become the Blazers’ all-time leading scorer.
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After the OKC-Blazers clash, the 6-time All-Star spoke about the outstanding feat he had just accomplished. Being proud of himself, the sharpshooter said:
“It’s a great feeling to reach the top,” he said. “It’s been a goal of mine and the list has so many players, great history of our organization, so to finally be No 1 is a special accomplishment that I’m proud of.”
As Chauncey Billups’ boys return back home after a 6-game long roadtrip, the organization held a ceremony for Dame’s recent success.
The Trail Blazers held a ceremony for Damian Lillard
In the first quarter of the Blazers-Hornets clash, the franchise played a video for Lillard that featured several fellow NBA stars congratulating him.
Further, the Blazers even held a ceremony postgame to celebrate Lillard being the all-time franchise leading scorer.
Talking about the same, the 2013 Rookie of the Year was nothing but thankful for his teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, the organization, the fans, and the city of Portland.
“I don’t know how to describe it. It made me feel old a little bit,” said Lillard, who had 17 points and nine assists in the 124-113 win. “Just the appreciation from my teammates. I don’t big bro them even though a lot of them are much younger than me and probably grew up watching me in the NBA when they were in high school. But tonight to hear them say congratulations, it was almost admiration in their voice and respect. I knew it was there but tonight I felt it even more.”
“Even from the crowd, them sticking around and clapping every 10 words. These are the people that have cheered me on all along,” Lillard said.
Finally, Dame emotionally called Portland his “home”.
Is Dame a future Hall Of Famer?
There is no denying that Dame is a Blazers legend. However, has the 6-foot-2 guard achieved enough to be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame?
Let’s have a look at his resume. The 32-year-old has made it to 6 All-Star Games and 6 All-NBA teams, the most in franchise history. Back in 2013, Damian was also voted as the unanimous pick for the Rookie of the Year honors.
Apart from winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Tokyo 2020, Lillard was even a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
While an NBA championship is the major thing missing from his stellar resume, it is pretty safe to say that he will be a Hall-Of-Famer when he decides to hand up his boots.
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