Lillard talks about playing in Portland with the Bucks: “Exciting”

This Wednesday, 31st, the shipowner Damian Lillard will play its first game against Portland Trail Blazersin Oregonwith the shirt of Milwaukee Bucks. The player faces his former team for the second time in the 2023/24 season, the first away from the team, but this time, he plays in the city where he played all his life and became an idol. The star made it clear that he is excited and reflective about the moment.

“Of course it will be very special. Above all, an emotional occasion for me. I care a lot about everything involving the Blazers. I spent my life as a player here. I loved playing in the city and for the franchise. I love having lived there, and still having my home in the city. So, I can’t remain indifferent, it will be a unique sensation”said Lillard, in an interview with the local newspaper, “The Oregonian”.

Top scorer in franchise history
2 series-clinching game-winners
7 All-NBA selections
7 NBA All-Star selections
11 years of Dame Time ⌚️

Lillard returns to Portland at 10pm/et on ESPN https://t.co/QKwaDHKoG1pic.twitter.com/14ZDoIRgk4

— NBA (@NBA) January 31, 2024

Lillard created a connection with the franchise that drafted him sixth in the 2012 Draft and became a local idol. In 12 seasons with the team, he had many opportunities to ask for a change, but sometimes he insisted too much in trying to take the team to the title that hasn’t been won since 1977. He even came close in 2018/19, but stopped in the conference finals against Golden State Warriors.

“I’m excited to play a game at the Moda Center again. I loved being in that place. Above all, I loved the people I went to work with every day. Not just the players, but people from the franchise who don’t appear on camera. It’s some of what made it even harder when I left. It wasn’t a relationship that broke down or where love ended.”he said. “My dream is to win an NBA title. I wanted, above all, to have a chance to win it all. We couldn’t have that at the same time in Portland these days. I understand and now I’m on a team that can give me that opportunity. We’re still discovering some things, my fit is very good with the team, but I’m still working to find the best way to play. But, like I said, I’m coming back now and with lots of love.”he completed.

The shipowner even signaled that a return home is not out of the question. Not now, but someday. “That’s what I see for myself in the future. I feel like I’m still going to come back and play for the Blazers. But it won’t be now and I can’t think about it. I play for the Bucks, I’m committed to my team. To achieve all our goals, the focus needs to be 100% on that. And that’s what I’m doing”he stated.