SUMMARY
- Damian Lillard made an emotional return to Portland as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, playing against his former team, the Trail Blazers.
- Lillard's statement about being "all-in" with the Bucks but considering a return to the Blazers in the future garnered mixed reactions from fans.
The Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster 3-team trade in the 2023 offseason. The Bucks were super excited to land the seven-time All-Star and were eyeing winning a chip in the 2023–24 season. However, Damian Lillard might have some other plans for staying on the roster.
The No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference faced off against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 31, 2024, at the Moda Center in Portland. The 33-year-old point guard came back to play against his former team tonight, and the evening was ‘emotional’ for him. Going back to his former team’s arena seems to have influenced his statements and emotions, as the Bucks’ star guard is now talking about going back to the Trail Blazers.
Dame says he’s “all in” on being a Buck and competing for a chip, but could see himself returning to the Blazers one day 👀
Dame plays his first game back in Portland tonight
(via @AaronJFentress) pic.twitter.com/uYlAzvPYq0
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 1, 2024
A fan wrote, “He wants to be LeBron so bad.” After all, LeBron too won two chips with the Miami Heat and then went back to his home team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. There have been incidents where Lillard and LeBron have shared a close bond on camera, and this statement by Lillard seems to point toward how similar a career trajectory the two will have if the Blazers take him back.
Reactions to the tweet floated by @BleacherReport indeed contain a spectrum of emotions. The tweet read, “Dame says he’s ‘all-in’ on being a Bucks and competing for a chip, but could see himself returning to the Blazers one day.” And fans have a queer reaction to the statement.
While this claim astonishes some fans, others are just bashing the player for it. There’s a lot to unpack regarding his first game back in Portland.
Damian Lillard looks to return to the Blazers one day, despite the Bucks’ move
Lillard spilled the beans about his plans in a pre-game interview tonight. Before the Blazers knocked down the Bucks by a 3-point lead, the former teammate stated that he still sees his future with them. ‘Dame D.O.L.L.A.’ said, “Right now, I’m just in a space of, like, this is where I am now. I’m in Milwaukee. I wanted the opportunity to contend, and our team has an opportunity to contend for this year and years to come.”
He added, “But definitely, when I was traded, I see a day where I’ll be in a Trail Blazer uniform again before I’m done.” The star guard of the Bucks accidentally went into the home team’s locker room when he entered the arena instead of the visitor’s, and that alone says a lot about his overwhelming emotions tonight.
Damian Lillard on the loud standing ovation he received during introductions Wednesday night at the Moda Center:
“I just felt appreciated. I think that’s what it comes down to. You just feel the appreciation and the love. And I just kind of stood in it. It was like, man, this is… pic.twitter.com/IBUCqo7g9W
— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) February 1, 2024
On top of that, the one-minute standing ovation that he received when his name was announced during pregame introductions speaks tons about his fan following back home. Lillard finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists tonight against his former team.
LeBron James wanted Damian Lillard on the Lakers’ roster
Back in October 2022, when many were questioning his loyalty to Portland, Damian spilled the beans on the Lakers’s offer. While talking to The Ringer, ‘Dames D.O.L.L.A.’ gave privy details about his offseason meeting LeBron James. Pulling up to James’ house, Lillard disclosed that LeBron was eager to recruit him for the Los Angeles Lakers.
It seemed like Lillard had planned out his retirement with the Blazers alone and wouldn’t be entertaining any other teams. However, the two have indeed, time and again, displayed their fondness for one another.