When Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard hit the game-winning 3-pointer over the Houston Rockets in the 2014 playoffs to send Houston home, Robert Covington was on the Rockets' bench.
That's right, folks. The newest member of the Blazers was on the Rockets at the time and knew his team was in trouble the second the ball left Lillard's hands.
“As soon as it left his hands I was like ‘oh no’” – @Holla_At_Rob33 on witnessing @dame_lillard's 0.9 game winner vs Houston
Great question, @JamieHudsonNBCS! pic.twitter.com/jgH5P9WqFb
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) November 24, 2020
Robert Covington can laugh about it now since he's on the Blazers, but it's easy to assume he was heartbroken back in 2014 when Damian Lillard sent James Harden, Dwight Howard and the Rockets packing.
Covington wasn't a rotational NBA player back then, so he wasn't in the game. The talented swingman is now one of the better 3-and-D forwards in the league and the Blazers are excited about adding him to the team.
With the Minnesota Timberwolves and Rockets last season, Covington averaged 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 33.5 percent from beyond the arc and 79.8 percent from the free-throw line.
The Blazers acquired the Illinois native from the Rockets for Trevor Ariza, Isaiah Stewart and a 2021 first-round pick.
Portland lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2020 playoffs in five games at Walt Disney World in the NBA bubble. However, the team has vastly improved this offseason with the additions of Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. and the re-signing of Carmelo Anthony and Rodney Hood.
Follow Us
Subscribe