After a long summer filled with rumors and speculations, the Damian Lillard saga came to an end, when the All-Star was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
While Lillard’s first season with the Bucks has been tumultuous and already included a change at the head coaching position, the Bucks have a good record, he’s been named an All-Star starter, and he has had an incredible game-winner. So things could definitely be worse.
Last night, when the Blazers hosted the Bucks, Lillard played in Portland as a guest, for the first time in his life. The franchise that drafted him, and that he put back on the map still showed all the love to Dame, who very much likely is the greatest player in Blazers franchise history.
During player introductions, Lillard was met with cheers and a minute long standing ovation.
Damian Lillard receives an ovation from Rip City in his return to Portland ❤️
Trail Blazers-Bucks | LIVE on ESPN pic.twitter.com/HFjFhcRcS9
— NBA (@NBA) February 1, 2024
The standing ovation wasn’t all. As you can imagine, Lillard also received a tribute video from his former team.
Damian Lillard tribute video.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 1, 2024
Being a good guest, Lillard and his highly favored Bucks, gifted the Blazers the win. It was some missed Giannis Antetokounmpo free throws and a key floated by Anfernee Simons with 17 seconds left, that helped the Blazers bet the Bucks 119-116.
Lillard finished with 25 points in what was the Bucks’ second straight loss under new head coach Doc Rivers.
After the game, Lillard revealed that it was weird to use the visitor’s locker room, that he had been to for the fist time in his career, after having had a spot in the home team’s locker room for the past 11 years.
“It was weird. I walked in and as I was coming in, I was instinctively about keep walking down the hall…I really didn’t know where to go. I had never been in the visitor’s locker room until today.”
Damian Lillard, on walking into the visitor’s locker room:
“It was weird. I walked in and as I was coming in, I was instinctively about keep walking down the hall…I really didn’t know where to go. I had never been in the visitor’s locker room until today.”
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) February 1, 2024
