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Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard, taking the reins of his team's official social-media account on Tuesday evening, answered a fan's question about the toughest opponents he's faced.
“Kobe my rookie year and [LeBron] my first few years,” Lillard, 29, answered on Twitter. “They different,” the five-time All-Star floor general also added.
Kobe my rookie year and Lebron my first few years … they different https://t.co/bPS9wG71aD
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 14, 2020
Lillard's answer of James is curious, though, given that the three-time NBA champion played exclusively in the Eastern Conference with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, joining the Los Angeles Lakers in the west just last season.
Given Lillard's answer including James for just the Blazers star's “first few years,” it would be interesting to follow up and ask about playing James and the Lakers now. Perhaps Lillard has adjusted to the competition of the NBA since his early days with Portland.
Lillard's immediate answer, though, comes with no surprise given out the recently departed Lakers legend Bryant was an idol for many people, especially NBA players. Bryant won five championships with L.A. over the course of two decades, retiring after the 2015-16 season. Lillard, a native of Oakland, California, no doubt grew up watching Bryant and the Lakers playing in southern California.
Since winning Rookie of the Year in 2012-13, Lillard has transformed into one of the most dominant scoring point guards in the NBA, reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time in his career last season, falling to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors — his hometown team — last May.
