For years, NBA fans have both marveled at and questioned Damian Lillard’s loyalty to the Trailblazers due to the team’s inability to build a championship contending roster in a tough Western Conference.
The six-time All-Star has shirked every potential path to a new team since arriving in Portland as the sixth pick in the 2012 draft, and he recently doubled down on his long-standing commitment with a two-year extension worth close to $122 million. The deal came nearly a year after rumors of Lillard’s interest in playing elsewhere emerged following a first-round playoff loss to a depleted Nuggets team, only for him to (once again) slam the door shut and end talks of a possible exit.
Ahead of his 11th NBA season, the 32-year-old Lillard with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports about one of the key reasons behind why he’s stayed in Portland: the opportunity to pass Hall of Fame guard and Blazers great Clyde Drexler as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
