There are a few names that come to mind when we think about players who have remained with a single franchise throughout their career in the NBA. There are some famous names in Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Tim Duncan etc. But most of these players have won the title multiple times.
However, a certain star player named Damian Lillard who has been with the Portland Trailblazers for nine years now is yet to get his hands on the NBA trophy. But despite the results, every season Lillard’s loyalty towards the franchise has only increased with every passing season.
Dame Dolla is undoubtedly the best player to feature for the Blazers ever since Clyde Drexler left the team in the mid-90s. Lillard has always stepped up throughout his stint at the Blazers and has taken them to the playoffs every single year barring his rookie season. However, to remember his legacy and stature as a player he needs to lift the NBA title and he is far from achieving it with the Blazers at least for now.
In a recent interview, he revealed how he wants to be a part of the Blazers despite multiple failures. He explained, “Anytime in your life when you become so invested in something, whether that’s a person or a company or anything, you care a lot because of the time that you put into it.”
The Blazers last won the NBA title way back in 1977 and even back then it was a surprise for a lot of people as they were in their debut playoffs season. Under Damian Lillard, the closest they have come is the Conference Finals where they were beaten by the Warriors.
The 30-year-old further added, “It just means a lot to be considered amongst the best players to play in this organization because there’s been so many great players here, and to win a championship because we’ve only won one and it’s been so long, that would just be the best ending for me.”
Despite being at his peak currently Lillard feels that a move away may also backfire for him. “Every person that says you know I want to see him on the big stage… of course those things have pros, but nobody ever wants to think about the cons. If you take that step and it’s not what it seems to be. They chose one guy over the next guy and now you’re traded to a third team, things can fall apart,” he explained.
The 30-year-old also put an end to all the debate as he suggested that it has to be the Blazers management telling him to leave or else he will stay with the franchise. “For me, it would have to come down to my team saying look, we’re going in a different direction, and we don’t want to hold you hostage, basically, and what route do you want to go,” Lillard concluded.
