Damian Lillard has always kept it real, both on and off the court.
Lillard has been loyal to the Portland Trail Blazers since they selected him with the sixth pick in 2012 draft, and he has no plans to leave any time soon.
Dude is a bona fide All-Star but the Blazers have never made it past the second round of the playoffs since his arrival in Rip City.
We live in the era of superteams and players looking to stuff their trophy cabinet for their ‘legacy’, but Dame isn’t about that life.
“I do want to win a championship but it’s other stuff that means more to me,” Lillard told Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
“It’s almost like I’m not willing to sell myself out for that.”
*Cut to Kevin Durant getting triggered*
For Lillard, success isn’t defined solely by titles.
“Obviously we all play to win a championship,” he said.
“I want to win a championship. I compete to win a championship, but I’ve learned that it’s about so many other things.
“The relationships, the impact that you have on other people and their lives, and the impact that you can have on their careers. So, for me, I enjoy that.”
Lillard appreciates all those relationships from coaches and trainers to teammates and medical staff.
And he hates the idea of asking for a trade and letting them all down.
“It could affect too many people for one,” he said.
“Two, you can go somewhere else and you’re not guaranteed to win a championship.
“So I mean for reasons like that, I’m just like man, I’m more into where I am as a person, you know, the relationships and the impact that it could have on people.
“When my career is over I’m going to know the relationships that I’m going to have, I’m going to know the people who knew I was solid with them regardless if it was at the top or if I controlled all this stuff that I did it the right way.
“That I took people’s situations and their families and what could be into consideration before I just made a decision based off ‘alright this what would be best for me.”
What a guy.
And with Lillard so determined to do the right thing by the Blazers, here’s hoping they always do the right thing by him.
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