Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard believes he’ll play for the Portland Trail Blazers again before he retires from the NBA.
Lillard returns to Portland tomorrow to face the Blazers for the first time since requesting a trade and getting dealt to the Bucks.
“I see there being a time where I play for the Trail Blazers,” Lillard said, via Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. “But it won’t be right now. I play for the Bucks. To accomplish what we want to accomplish, you’ve got to be all in on that. And I was traded and I’m all in to try to accomplish that here.”
Lillard spent the first 11 years of his career with the Blazers. He averaged 25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks and made seven All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard is the Blazers’ franchise leader in 3-point field goals, free throws, points, points per game, player efficiency rating, offensive win shares and offensive box plus/minus.
“I think it’ll always be like any emotional thing just because I loved living and playing in Portland,” Lillard said. “I never had plans to not play for the Blazers. So, I think because of that being a genuine feeling, I don’t think it will ever leave. But I think sometimes you’ve got to make hard decisions for what you want ultimately.”
Lillard will get a tribute video from the Blazers and a standing ovation from the Moda Center crowd tomorrow. The future Hall of Famer said he likely won’t cry.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
“I think it will be emotional because I care,” Lillard said. “I loved playing in Portland. I loved living there and still live there. I’m not like a big crier. I don’t think I’ll be crying, and all of that. But I care. Everything I ever said about my time in Portland playing there, I meant that s—. So, yeah, it will be.”
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