Loyalty is a two-way street for Damian Lillard.
Lillard seems to be on his way out of Portland, with a trade request seemingly years in the making paving the way for his exit. While some fans have braced for this for some time, others aren't too pleased with the All-NBA guard's escape plan.
Lillard has maintained loyalty to Portland throughout his career, going as far to decry superteams and saying he'd do what he can to win a championship with the Trail Blazers. Responding to some claims of potential hypocrisy, Lillard says he hasn't misled any fans as he angles to leave.
"It’s in my blood to take the high road," Lillard tweeted recently. "I’d love to hear what fans are turning on… have I mislead them? Or anyone ? Fill me in"
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In years past, Lillard has made headlines for calling out players who "run from the grind," including Paul George and Patrick Beverly.
"Keep switching teams … running from the grind. you boys is chumps," Lillard said on Instagram.
As recently as 2022, Lillard has said that he plans to win a championship with the Trail Blazers, saying it was his top goal.
"That's the only thing I care about, honestly," Lillard said about winning a championship in Portland.
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Certainly, Lillard has done what he can in Portland, with the organization going through multiple GMs, head coaches and roster iterations throughout his decade-long tenure. Lillard is a seven-time All-Star, one-time All-NBA first team, and has accomplished almost all there is to accomplish short of winning league MVP (another goal of his).
The Trail Blazers selected guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, opening the door for Lillard to seek new opportunities elsewhere. It's been reported that Miami is Lillard's preferred trade destination.
The grass isn't always greener, but Lillard will certainly put the cliche to the test this upcoming season.
