Damian Lillard wants to win a championship with the Portland Trail Blazers. He loves playing with longtime teammates like C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic, and has found a home living in Rip City. None of those factors, however, were ultimately what caused Lillard to back off a potential trade request over the summer that at times appeared imminent.
What was it that gave the greatest player in franchise history newfound confidence in the direction of the Blazers? A series of conversations Lillard had with Chauncey Billups in wake of Portland hiring the latter to replace Terry Stotts on the sidelines.
“I think a big part of [my change in mindset] was me and Chauncey’s conversations, and where we see things the same,” Lillard said on Tuesday, per Jason Quick of The Athletic. “I’m not going to share details of our conversations, but it’s not often when I speak to people that they see what I see. Watching a game, observing people … there’s not many people who see what I see. But a lot of what I see, he sees. So that was very important to me. Like, that was a big deal.”
All momentum since the end of free agency suggested that Lillard, despite Neil Olshey and the front office failing to make the significant roster upgrades he called for, would remain with the Blazers for at least this season. Multiple reports indicated his affinity for Billups played a major part in Lillard re-committing to Portland, too. Lillard, remember, went on the record with his support for Billups' candidacy immediately after the Blazers parted ways with Stotts in early June.
Lillard also admitted on Tuesday that he gave real consideration to leaving Portland, even if he never came close to demanding a trade. A rough start to Billups' tenure will not change his mind about bailing on the Blazers, either.
“I like our staff, I like Chauncey a lot and I love being a Trail Blazer,” Lillard said. “I love living in Portland. I love what I’ve built. And like I said on media day, I want to see it through. And a rocky start might be part of that, but that don’t mean I’m going to flip and do something different than what I’ve always done.”
Portland opens the regular season at home against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
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