Money, fame, and moderate success in the NBA isn't enough to drive Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard.
Lillard, the 29-year-old former Rookie of the Year, is filming a role in the LeBron James–led “Space Jam” sequel but his focus could not be more on the game of basketball.
Asked by Jason Quick in The Athletic about what still “drives” Lillard, the four-time All-Star answered that it's the desire to win an NBA title and MVP award.
Because it’s just always something else. For me, I’ve had a lot of accomplishments – high school, college, and even in the NBA. But the ultimate goal is to win it all, to win the championship as a team. As an individual, you want to be MVP. So, I think that’s an easy question. I haven’t been either one of those – a champion or MVP – so there’s a lot I still have to play for, a lot to keep me going.
The Blazers, led by the All-NBA guard Lillard, reached the Western Conference Finals in 2019 — the first time in franchise history since the back-to-back appearances in 1999-00. Portland was swept by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in four games however.
Lillard also signed a four-year, $196 million supermax extension with Portland. The contract has a player option for the 2024-25 season.
Portland has only achieved a single title in franchise history, in 1977 with Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas, and Jack Ramsay at the helm. Lillard desires winning at the highest level, and that means bringing an NBA championship back to the City of Roses.
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