“Finally to be No. 1”: Damian Lillard Makes Confession Over His Future After Being Honored in Portland
In their first home game since Damian Lillard eclipsed Clyde Drexler as the team’s all-time greatest scorer, the Portland Trail Blazers paid tribute to Lillard on Monday night. In the opening period of Portland’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, Lillard was honored with a standing ovation and video greetings from past teammates, coaches, and current NBA stars like Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Damian Lillard is having yet another successful season.
The star of the Portland Trail Blazers is averaging 28.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 7.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks while shooting 44.8% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range, and 90.4% from the free-throw line.
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Damian Lillard honored by the Blazers
The six-time All-Star discussed the amazing achievement he had just accomplished after the OKC-Blazers game.
“It’s a great feeling to reach the top,” he said. “It’s been a goal of mine and the list has so many players, great history of our organization, so to finally be No 1 is a special accomplishment that I’m proud of.”
“I don’t know how to describe it. It made me feel old a little bit,” said Lillard, who had 17 points and nine assists in the 124-113 win. “Just the appreciation from my teammates. I don’t big bro them even though a lot of them are much younger than me and probably grew up watching me in the NBA when they were in high school. But tonight to hear them say congratulations, it was almost admiration in their voice and respect. I knew it was there but tonight I felt it even more.”
“This is home for me.”
— @Dame_Lillard pic.twitter.com/BumW79kqYe
— Jamie Hudson (@JamieHudson_) December 27, 2022
“Even from the crowd, them sticking around and clapping every 10 words. These are the people that have cheered me on all along,” Lillard said.
A week earlier, Damian Lillard overtook Drexler in Oklahoma City while driving. As the Thunder public address announcer announced Lillard’s feat, the Paycom Center audience applauded him. Drexler scored 18,040 points in 867 games for the Trail Blazers between 1983 and 1995. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Lillard, 32, established the record while competing for Portland in his 730th game overall.
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