Superstars such as Damian Lillard leaving their franchises to team up with other great players and form “superteams” has become the norm in the modern NBA.
Just this offseason, we’ve seen Anthony Davis jumped ship from New Orleans to join LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, while California natives Paul George and Kawhi Leonard opted to leave their previous teams for the Clippers.
But the Portland Trail Blazers back court of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum seems to have been cut from a different cloth, as they continue to express their disdain with the current trend.
“I don’t care what the trend is,” Lillard said in a report from USA TODAY Sports. “Players are taking control of the power and influence they have. I don’t have an issue with it because there’s been times in the league that players didn’t have that and players were taken advantage of and put in tough situations. So I understand it. But I play for a great organization. I play for a great coach. I love where I live. I have a great situation.”
McCollum shares the same view, claiming every player has the right to choose where to play, but he would rather stick it out in Oregon.
“Everybody has the right to make the decision that they feel is best for themselves. That’s the way the league has gone. But I’m indifferent. I really just work on myself and work on how I can get better for our team.”
The Lillard-McCollum continues to be one of the best back court duos in the game today. Lillard has been averaging 33.0 points (2nd in the league behind James Harden) on 49.3 shooting from the field and 39.2 clip from three.
McCollum, meanwhile, is tallying 19.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. The Blazers are currently 10th in the West with a 4-6 slate.
Follow Us
Subscribe