Whenever an important player gets injured for a team, their mentality usually shifts to “next man up,” and believing that other teammates can step up in their absence. That's exactly what Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has done this season.
Big man Jusuf Nurkic has missed time due to a broken wrist, while guard CJ McCollum has also been sidelined due to a broken left foot.
In an interview with The Athletic’s Jason Quick, Lillard admitted that he has been thinking about how much Nurkic and McCollum could have helped the Blazers if they played, despite his own brilliant play.
“Maybe y’all haven’t been doing that, but I do that all the time,” Lillard said of the absence of his injured teammates. “I don’t think you have two players at the level those guys are and not go into a game thinking of them.”
It’s understandable that the six-time All-Star wonders how different their season would be if they had both Nurkic and McCollum. After all, McCollum averaged 26.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and five assists in the 13 games he played this season. Nurkic, meanwhile, put up averages of 9.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 12 games, numbers which could have helped Portland as they are in the midst of a three-game losing streak.
Lillard has done an admirable job in their absence, putting up huge numbers and garnering consideration for the MVP award as he continues to play at a high level. But in a tough Western Conference where a few wins could mean a lot, not having two of the Blazers' best players that could make a difference is something that is always on Lillard's mind.
Follow Us
Subscribe