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Portland Path Blazers star Damian Lillard would not just like the NBA pattern of being obsessive about solely successful championships.
The guard mentioned the scenario with J.J. Redick on The Outdated Man and the Three podcast:
JJ Redick @jj_redick
Dame with some ideas on the present discourse across the NBA and why he has peace @Dame_Lillard. Full episode drops tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/Kr9GNc0mlN
“I simply do not know if I can play a protracted, very long time as a result of I do not get pleasure from what the NBA as a complete is changing into,” Lillard stated (1:34 in video).
Lillard stated he performs for “the love of the sport,” however he stated most individuals solely focus on who wins a championship.
“Whereas I perceive we play to win championships—all of us wish to win the championship—we will not hold performing like nothing issues,” he stated. “Like the remainder of these items, the journey, would not matter. We won’t hold doing that.”
The 11-year NBA veteran has stayed loyal to the Path Blazers all through his profession, however he hasn’t come near successful a championship. He made one run to the Western Convention finals in 2019 earlier than being swept by the Golden State Warriors.
Outdoors of that run, Lillard’s groups have gained solely two playoff sequence.
Regardless of the dearth of rings, the guard has nonetheless been among the many finest within the NBA over the previous decade with seven All-Star picks, six All-NBA honors and a Rookie of the Yr award. The 32-year-old is within the midst of a profession yr, averaging 32.1 factors and seven.3 assists per sport.
Although Portland has an uphill battle to even attain the playoffs—it entered Tuesday thirteenth within the West with a 31-37 document—the celebrity deserves to be celebrated for his accomplishments.
