The Portland Trail Blazers, at 39-24, are tied for third in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have the fifth-best record and third-best net rating in the league since the New Year, and just added two crucial rotation pieces with the playoffs right around the corner.
Is Portland a real championship threat? No one outside the team seems to think so despite its recent run of success and objectively improved roster. Those in the locker room, though, certainly believe the Blazers are legitimate contenders, and the presence of Damian Lillard – as both on-court and off-court leader – is probably the biggest reason why.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Andrew Sharp, Blazers big man Jusuf Nurkic extolled the virtues of Lillard's humble yet direct style of leadership.
“It's hard to explain day-by-day what he means to us,” Nurkic said of Lillard. “But I think the most important thing for me, and for anybody on the team, he's a consistent person every day. He never changes. No matter what happens to the team or to us [as individuals], he's the same person. Ain't no fake. Ain't no lies. Whatever he says, he stands by that. That's what you want from anybody, but especially from your best player out there.”
Lillard, 28, has expressed a desire to finish his career where it started in Portland. He's a free agent in 2020, though, and the Blazers' relative mediocrity over recent years made it easy to imagine the four-time All-Star being traded before hitting free agency as the team embarks on an arduous rebuilding process. But now that Portland is playing like one of the league's best teams, it's fair to say the odds of Lillard wearing red and block for the remainder of his playing days have somewhat increased.
Lillard, Nurkic, and the Blazers are back in action on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum.
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