LAS VEGAS – Damien Lillard has made it clear over the past few years that he wants to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers throughout his career and will stick to it if the organization doesn’t win the championship in his playing career.
Speaking at a news conference Saturday announcing his two-year extension with the Blazers, Lillard asked how his desire to stay in Portland doubled through thick and thin.
“I’ve always said that if I did something like that and said I won, I know you all know me,” Lillard said. “So I’ll be happy about it, because I don’t think anyone would be happy to be a champion, but that moment will not be as satisfying for me as I wanted it to be.… As long as I have the opportunity to do it, there is a good chance. [compete for a title]However, I am ready to go out. “
Lillard said several times on Saturday that people had to stop making noise saying I had to go elsewhere to win the championship. But he made it clear that he is confident in his willingness to continue trying to bring the Blazers back into the fray.
Lillard said, “I’ve always stood where I am and where I stand. Whether it’s going to be completed or not. I don’t want to go there with this crazy hard fight I’m fighting and we need 10 miracles to complete it. I just have one I want a shot and if it happens and it doesn’t work, I can live with it. “
Lillard, who has only played 29 games in the past season with a muscle injury, said it would be beneficial for him to not only sign another big extension but also set a new bar for young players. But also a deer hunter. The trend of changing teams in an age where many stars travel frequently in search of better conditions.
“I’m proud to be that guy,” Lillard said. “Because I don’t think you earn anything like that just by going there and earning a lot of points. And what we’ve lost in our league is the character and the fighting and the passion and the pride, not just the back name, but the front name and the people you came in contact with. Has an effect.
“And I love how much I’ve accepted it and I don’t pretend to embrace it, it’s really me and I think it just shows the strength in it. It shows to be committed to something and to put your heart in the right place and your mind in the right place.” Is required. “
Blazers coach Chancey Billups reiterated how much Lillard’s dedication means to the team as “an incredible day for our organization”.
“We’re very lucky to have a man like Dame in our market, in our franchise,” Billups said. “The superstars in our sport today are different from the way our generation owns their careers. And I mean, there are a lot of superstars, if they don’t want to be somewhere, they have to find a way to get where they want to go. And Dame is very clear about her intentions and her intentions to stay in Portland and play in front of Portland fans, and I have a lot of respect for her because that doesn’t happen. “
Billups, who won the title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and is known as one of the most clutch players of his time, knows how committed Lillard is to the Blazers team, trying to change the situation after a 27-move last season. From 55. ,
“In our game today, you got two types of teams,” Billups said. “A team that has a superstar and teams that are looking for one. We are lucky to have one and one who wants to come here. So that’s great – this organization has changed a lot; He’s stuck in all of us, in all of this. “
Lillard hopes that by staying in Portland he can show a whole new generation of young players that they can enjoy the city, even if his team has hit some tough times in the last few years.
“Hopefully that will have an impact in the future,” Lillard said. “Oh, the media shouldn’t say, ‘Everyone is telling me this.’ And you just do what everyone else is trying to convince you to do, because no one will live up to your decisions. That’s why I’m proud to be a jumper.” And this is an organization to show such faith and trust in me.
“But I am more proud of what this kind of commitment from the organization shows. And I hope it reaches people who will follow it. “