Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back Wednesday when asked about Damian Lillard’s future in Portland.
On a First Take segment centered around whether or not it was time for Lillard to move on from the Trail Blazers, which also featured one of Lillard’s former Portland teammates in CJ McCollum, Smith explained why he has zero doubt it’s time for a change.
“I have been begging Damian Lillard to get the hell out of Portland,” Smith said. “You’re not winning there. You’re not getting any free agents to come there. It’s just not going to happen.”
Here’s Smith’s full monologue on Lillard’s next move.
.@stephenasmith says Damian Lillard needs to get out of Portland:
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 7, 2023
"I have been BEGGING Damian Lillard to get the hell out of Portland. ... He's not winning in Portland. It will not happen." pic.twitter.com/Og6fuDFexY
Watching McCollum, who spent nine seasons as Lillard’s backcourt running mate with the Trail Blazers, react to the segment was entertainment on its own. At one point, McCollum couldn’t hold in the laughter, breaking down as Smith mentioned telling Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, to “get [Lillard] the hell out of town.”
Of course, Smith had to throw out one potential destination for Lillard: his beloved New York Knicks.
“I wish he was in a New York Knicks market desperately,” Smith said. “I wish he was in a major market desperately… Otherwise, we’re just going to be talking about what this great player was and how we never saw him on the big stage.”
