“Would they still be our idols”: Damian Lillard questions how public perception of NBA stars has changed in the social media era

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard makes an eye-opening comment about players and social media in today’s day and age.

Damian Lillard has been one of the best offensive players in the league for the Portland Trail Blazers this season. When he has been on the court, the 30-year-old has led his team superbly so far.

It isn’t just this campaign though. Being one of the most high-profile players in the league with a flashy playstyle, the player has had a plethora of incredible moments.

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Who could ever forget his step-back three to send the OKC Thunder home? With his status, it is obvious that the Blazers star is an idol to many in the NBA community. Lillard has always expressed his appreciation for the status and respect he gets as a public figure.

But recently, the star made a very divisive comment on Twitter about this very status and social media today. And let’s just say, it is one that every sports fan will want to pay attention to.

Damian Lillard makes a damning statement about the accessibility of the fans into players’ lives today

The Last Dance documentary gave fans a glimpse of what it was like to a star before the presence of social media. But, as if that wasn’t difficult enough, social media gives the common fan far more access to an idol’s personal life than ever before.

Many have come out and said that they don’t appreciate this facet of social media at all. And, with his recent tweet, it seems Damian Lillard has joined that list as well.

If social media allowed us to know our “idols” of the past the way people know us because of the accessibility … would they still be our idols?

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) April 21, 2021

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Damian Lillard poses an eye-opening question here. After all, before social media, it was far easier for an idol to hid certain parts of their personality from the world. However, in the social media age, it is easy to ‘expose’ these stars, something that can also affect their marketability.

Many have said that the Blazers star means this to be a message to reporters who dig too deep for drama. And given that it is their privacy that is being breached, we hope the intended parties heed it.